Detector for optically detecting at least one object

ABSTRACT

A detector ( 110 ) for optically detecting at least one object ( 112 ) is proposed. The detector ( 110 ) comprises at least one optical sensor ( 114 ). The optical sensor ( 114 ) has at least one sensor region ( 116 ). The optical sensor ( 114 ) is designed to generate at least one sensor signal in a manner dependent on an illumination of the sensor region ( 116 ). The sensor signal, given the same total power of the illumination, is dependent on a geometry of the illumination, in particular on a beam cross section of the illumination on the sensor area ( 118 ). The detector ( 110 ) furthermore has at least one evaluation device ( 122 ). The evaluation device ( 122 ) is designed to generate at least one item of geometrical information from the sensor signal, in particular at least one item of geometrical information about the illumination and/or the object ( 112 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a detector for optically detecting at least oneobject. Furthermore, the invention relates to a distance measuringdevice, an imaging device, a human-machine interface, an entertainmentdevice and a security device. Furthermore, the invention relates to amethod for optically detecting at least one object and to a use of anorganic solar cell as optical sensor. Such devices, methods and uses canbe employed for example in various areas of daily life, traffictechnology, production technology, security technology, medicaltechnology or in the sciences. However, other applications are alsopossible in principle.

PRIOR ART

A large number of optical sensors and photovoltaic devices are knownfrom the prior art. While photovoltaic devices are generally used toconvert electromagnetic radiation, for example, ultraviolet, visible orinfrared light, into electrical signals or electrical energy, opticaldetectors are generally used for picking up image information and/or fordetecting at least one optical parameter, for example, a brightness.

A large number of optical sensors which can be based generally on theuse of inorganic and/or organic sensor materials are known from theprior art. Examples of such sensors are disclosed in US 2007/0176165 A1,U.S. Pat. No. 6,995,445 B2, DE 2501124 A1, DE 3225372 A1 or else innumerous other prior art documents. To an increasing extent, inparticular for cost reasons and for reasons of large-area processing,sensors comprising at least one organic sensor material are being used,as described for example in US 2007/0176165 A1. In particular, so-calleddye solar cells are increasingly of importance here, which are describedgenerally, for example in WO 2009/013282 A1.

A large number of detectors for detecting at least one object are knownon the basis of such optical sensors. Such detectors can be embodied indiverse ways, depending on the respective purpose of use. Examples ofsuch detectors are imaging devices, for example, cameras and/ormicroscopes. High-resolution confocal microscopes are known, forexample, which can be used in particular in the field of medicaltechnology and biology in order to examine biological samples with highoptical resolution. Further examples of detectors for opticallydetecting at least one object are distance measuring devices based, forexample, on propagation time methods of corresponding optical signals,for example laser pulses. Further examples of detectors for opticallydetecting objects are triangulation systems, by means of which distancemeasurements can likewise be carried out.

Proceeding from such known detectors and methods for optically detectingobjects, it can be ascertained that in many cases a considerabletechnical outlay has to be implemented in order to carry out this objectdetection with sufficient precision.

By way of example, in microscopy a considerable outlay in respect ofapparatus is required in order to obtain correct focusing of a lightbeam and/or in order to obtain depth information about the sample to beimaged.

Distance measurements, by contrast, are based in many cases ontechnically inadequate assumptions such as, for example, the assumptionof a specific size of an object in an image evaluation. Other methodsare based in turn on complex pulse sequences, such as, for example,distance measurements by means of laser pulses. Yet other methods arebased on the use of a plurality of detectors such as, for example,triangulation methods.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED BY THE INVENTION

Therefore, a problem addressed by the present invention is that ofspecifying devices and methods for optically detecting at least oneobject which at least substantially avoid the disadvantages of knowndevices and methods of this type. In particular, the proposed devicesand methods are intended to make it possible to simplify an opticaldetection of at least one object in respect of apparatus.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This problem is solved by the invention with the features of theindependent patent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention,which can be realized individually or in combination, are presented inthe dependent claims.

A detector for optically detecting at least one object is proposed in afirst aspect of the present invention.

In the context of the present invention, an optical detection shouldgenerally be understood to mean a process in which at least one item ofinformation about the detected object is obtained. In this case, theterm information should be interpreted broadly. The at least one item ofinformation can comprise in particular one or more of the followingitems of information: an item of information about the fact that theobject is present or not for example in a measurement range and/orvisual range of the detector; an item of information about at least oneoptical property of the detector, for example, at least one brightnessand/or at least one radiation property, for example a luminescenceproperty; an item of location information of the object, for example, anitem of information about a distance between the object and the detectoror a part of the detector and/or a relative orientation of the objectwith respect to the detector or a part of the detector and/or an item ofposition information of the object in at least one coordinate systemwhich is determined by the detector and/or the object; an item ofinformation about a movement state of the object, for example aone-dimensional, two-dimensional or three-dimensional velocity of theobject and/or an acceleration of the object. Alternatively oradditionally, other items of information can also be obtained during thedetection of the object. The invention is described below substantiallywith reference to obtaining an item of location information about theobject, without restriction of further embodiments of the at least oneitem of geometrical information which can be realized alternatively oradditionally. Said geometrical information, in particular the locationinformation, can relate to the entire object or else only a part of theobject, for example a point, an area or a region of the object, which isdetected by means of the detector. Said point, said area or said regioncan be arranged on a surface of the object or else at least partlywithin the object.

The object can generally be a living or else inanimate object. Examplesof objects which can be detected completely or partly by means of thedetector are described in even greater detail below.

The detector comprises at least one optical sensor. The optical sensorhas at least one sensor region, in particular at least one sensor regioncomprising at least one sensor area. The optical sensor is designed togenerate at least one sensor signal in a manner dependent on anillumination of the sensor region. The sensor signal, given the sametotal power of the illumination, is dependent on a geometry of theillumination, in particular on a beam cross section of the illuminationin the sensor region, in particular on the sensor area.

The detector furthermore has at least one evaluation device. Theevaluation device is designed to generate at least one item ofgeometrical information from the sensor signal, in particular at leastone item of geometrical information about the illumination and/or theobject.

The detector can furthermore comprise at least one transfer device. Thetransfer device can be designed to feed electromagnetic radiationemerging from the object to the optical sensor and to illuminate thesensor region in the process. In the context of the present invention, atransfer device should be understood to mean a device which is embodiedin any desired manner, in principle, and which is designed to feed theelectromagnetic radiation emerging from the object to the optical sensorand there in particular to the sensor region or preferably the sensorarea. This feeding can be embodied in imaging fashion or else innon-imaging fashion. Thus, this optional transfer device can comprisefor example at least one beam path. The transfer device can for examplecomprise one or a plurality of mirrors and/or beam splitters and/or beamdeflecting elements in order to influence a direction of theelectromagnetic radiation. Alternatively or additionally, the transferdevice can comprise one or a plurality of imaging elements which canhave the effect of a converging lens and/or a diverging lens. By way ofexample, the optional transfer device can have one or a plurality oflenses and/or one or a plurality of convex and/or concave mirrors. Onceagain alternatively or additionally, the transfer device can have atleast one wavelength-selective element, for example at least one opticalfilter. Once again alternatively or additionally, the transfer devicecan be designed to impress a predefined beam profile on theelectromagnetic radiation, for example, at the location of the sensorregion and in particular the sensor area. The abovementioned optionalembodiments of the optional transfer device can, in principle, berealized individually or in any desired combination.

In the context of the present invention, an optical sensor should beunderstood generally to mean an element which is designed to convert atleast one optical signal into a different signal form, preferably intoat least one electrical signal, for example a voltage signal and/or acurrent signal. In particular the optical sensor can comprise at leastone optical-electrical converter element, preferably at least onephotodiode and/or at least one solar cell. As is explained in evengreater detail below, in the context of the present invention,preference is attached particularly to a use of at least one organicoptical sensor, that is to say an optical sensor which comprises atleast one organic material, for example at least one organicsemiconductor material.

In the context of the present invention, a sensor region should beunderstood to mean a two-dimensional or three-dimensional region whichpreferably, but not necessarily, is continuous and can form a continuousregion, wherein the sensor region is designed to vary at least onemeasurable property, in a manner dependent on the illumination. By wayof example, said at least one property can comprise an electricalproperty, for example, by the sensor region being designed to generate,solely or in interaction with other elements of the optical sensor, aphotovoltage and/or a photocurrent and/or some other type of signal. Inparticular the sensor region can be embodied in such a way that itgenerates a uniform, preferably a single, signal in a manner dependenton the illumination of the sensor region. The sensor region can thus bethe smallest unit of the optical sensor for which a uniform signal, forexample, an electrical signal, is generated, which preferably can nolonger be subdivided to partial signals, for example for partial regionsof the sensor region. The optical sensor can have one or else aplurality of such sensor regions, the latter case for example by aplurality of such sensor regions being arranged in a two-dimensionaland/or three-dimensional matrix arrangement.

The at least one sensor region can comprise for example at least onesensor area, that is to say a sensor region whose lateral extentconsiderably exceeds the thickness of the sensor region, for example byat least a factor of 10, preferably by at least a factor of 100 andparticularly preferably by at least a factor of 1000. Examples of suchsensor areas can be found in organic or inorganic photovoltaic elements,for example, in accordance with the prior art described above, or elsein accordance with the exemplary embodiments described in even greaterdetail below. The detector can have one or a plurality of such opticalsensors and/or sensor regions. By way of example, a plurality of opticalsensors can be arranged linearly in a spaced-apart manner or in atwo-dimensional arrangement or else in a three-dimensional arrangement,for example by a stack of photovoltaic elements being used, preferablyorganic photovoltaic elements, preferably a stack in which the sensorareas of the photovoltaic elements are arranged parallel to one another.Other embodiments are also possible.

The optional transfer device can, as explained above, be designed tofeed electromagnetic radiation emerging from the object to the opticalsensor. As explained above, this feeding can optionally be effected bymeans of imaging or else by means of non-imaging properties of thetransfer device. In particular the transfer device can also be designedto collect the electromagnetic radiation before the latter is fed to theoptical sensor. The optional transfer device can also, as explained ineven greater detail below, be wholly or partly a constituent part of atleast one optional illumination source, for example by the illuminationsource being designed to provide electromagnetic radiation havingdefined optical properties, for example having a defined or preciselyknown beam profile, for example at least one Gaussian beam, inparticular at least one laser beam having a known beam profile.

The electromagnetic radiation can be in particular light in one or moreof the following spectral ranges: in the ultraviolet spectral range, inthe visible spectral range, in the infrared spectral range. Theultraviolet spectral range can be considered to be for example a rangewith a wavelength of 50 nm to 400 nm, the visible spectral range a rangeof 400 nm to 800 nm, and the infrared spectral range a range of 800 nmto 100 000 nm.

The electromagnetic radiation emerging from the object can originate inthe object itself, but can also optionally have a different origin andpropagate from this origin to the object and subsequently toward theoptical sensor and the sensor region. The latter case can be effectedfor example by at least one illumination source being used. Thisillumination source can be for example ambient light or else anartificial illumination source. By way of example, the detector itselfcan comprise at least one illumination source, for example at least onelaser and/or at least one incandescent lamp and/or at least onesemiconductor light source, for example, at least one light-emittingdiode, in particular an organic and/or inorganic light-emitting diode.On account of their generally defined beam profiles and other propertiesof handleability, the use of one or a plurality of lasers asillumination source or as part thereof, is particularly preferred. Theillumination source itself can be a constituent part of the detector orelse be formed independently of the detector. The illumination sourcecan be integrated in particular into the detector, for example a housingof the detector. Alternatively or additionally, at least oneillumination source can also be integrated into the object or connectedor spatially coupled to the object.

The electromagnetic radiation emerging from the object can accordingly,alternatively or additionally from the option that said radiationoriginates in the object itself emerge from the illumination sourceand/or be excited by the illumination source. By way of example, theelectromagnetic radiation emerging from the object can be emitted by theobject itself and/or be reflected by the object and/or be scattered bythe object before it is fed to the optical sensor. In this case,emission and/or scattering of the electromagnetic radiation can beeffected without spectral influencing of the electromagnetic radiationor with such influencing. Thus, by way of example, a wavelength shiftcan also occur during scattering, for example according to Stokes orRaman. Furthermore, emission of radiation can be excited, for example,by a primary light source, for example by the object or a partial regionof the object being excited to effect luminescence, in particularphosphorescence and/or fluorescence. Other emission processes are alsopossible, in principle. If a reflection occurs, then the object can havefor example at least one reflective region, in particular at least onereflective surface. Said reflective surface can be a part of the objectitself, but can also be for example a reflector which is connected orspatially coupled to the object, for example a reflector plaqueconnected to the object. If at least one reflector is used, then it canin turn also be regarded as part of the detector which is connected tothe object, for example, independently of other constituent parts of thedetector. The at least one illumination source of the detector cangenerally be adapted to the emission and/or reflective properties of theobject, for example in terms of its wavelength. Various embodiments arepossible.

The feeding of the electromagnetic radiation to the optical sensor canbe effected in particular in such a way that a light spot, for examplehaving a round, oval or differently configured cross section, isproduced on the optional sensor area. By way of example, the detectorcan have a visual range, in particular a solid angle range and/orspatial range, within which objects can be detected. Preferably, theoptional transfer device is designed in such a way that the light spot,for example in the case of an object arranged within a visual range ofthe detector, is arranged completely on the sensor region, in particularthe sensor area. By way of example, a sensor area can be chosen to havea corresponding size in order to ensure this condition.

As described above, the optical sensor is designed to generate at leastone sensor signal in a manner dependent on the illumination of thesensor region. By way of example, this can be an electrical signal, inparticular a voltage signal and/or current signal, for example aphotovoltage and/or a photocurrent. Hereinafter, without restrictingpossible further embodiments, reference is made in particular to opticalsensors which, in a manner dependent on the illumination generate atleast one photocurrent. The optical signal can be temporally constant orvary temporally and can be embodied, in principle, in analog fashion orelse in digital fashion, wherein analog signals are preferredhereinafter. The sensor signal can be used as a raw signal, but can alsobe subjected to one or a plurality of processing operations, for exampleone or a plurality of filtering operations or similar processingoperations. No distinction is drawn hereinafter between these optionsand the use of a raw signal, and the term sensor signal is useduniformly. Furthermore, without restricting further possibleembodiments, it is assumed that the sensor signal has positive values,and the term of a maximum should for example, also be understood in thisrespect. If one or a plurality of sensor signals having a negative signare detected, which is likewise possible, then hereinafter either theexpression of the maximum should be replaced by the term of a minimum orgenerally of an extremum, or the actual sensor signal should bereplaced, for example by its absolute value, as will readily be evidentto the person skilled in the art.

As explained above, the optical sensor is designed to generate at leastone sensor signal in a manner dependent on the illumination of thesensor region, wherein the sensor signal, given the same total power ofthe illumination, is dependent on a geometry of the illumination, inparticular on a beam cross section of the illumination on the sensorarea.

A geometry of the illumination can generally summarize at least oneproperty of the illumination which characterizes a two-dimensionaland/or three-dimensional embodiment of a region of the sensor regionwhich is exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emerging from theobject. By way of example, the geometry of the illumination can becharacterized by a beam cross section of the illumination on or in thesensor region, for example on a sensor surface, for example by adiameter or equivalent diameter of the illumination, for example of alight spot. As described above, a light spot which can have for examplea diameter or an equivalent diameter can be produced for example on thesensor area. Said diameter or equivalent diameter can completely orpartly characterize for example the geometry of the illumination. Alight spot can be understood to mean for example an illuminated area, inparticular in demarcation relative to an unilluminated area. By way ofexample, light spot can be understood to mean an area of the sensorregion within which an intensity of the illumination is at least 10% ofa maximum intensity. However, other definitions of a light spot are alsopossible, in principle, for example by other limit values being setinstead of 10%, since an edge of the illumination in practice, will notbe sharply defined by virtue of the intensity falling abruptly to zero.

The optical sensor can be designed for example in such a way that thesensor signal, given the same power of the illumination, that is to sayfor example given the same integral over the intensity of theillumination on the sensor area, is dependent on the geometry of theillumination, that is to say for example on the diameter and/or theequivalent diameter for the sensor spot. By way of example, the sensorcan be designed in such a way that upon a doubling of the beam crosssection given the same total power, a signal variation occurs by atleast a factor of 3, preferably by at least a factor of 4, in particulara factor of 5 or even a factor of 10. This condition can hold true forexample for a specific focusing range, for example for at least onespecific beam cross section. Thus, by way of example, the signal canhave, between at least one optimum focusing at which the signal can havefor example at least one global or local maximum and a focusing outsidesaid at least one optimum focusing, a signal difference by at least afactor of 3, preferably by at least a factor of 4, in particular afactor of 5 or even a factor of 10. In particular, the sensor signal canhave as a function of the geometry of the illumination, for example ofthe diameter or equivalent diameter of a light spot, at least onepronounced maximum, for example with a boost by at least a factor of 3,particularly preferably by at least a factor of 4 and particularlypreferably by at least a factor of 10.

Consequently, the invention is based generally on the hithertounreported and surprising insight that specific optical sensors existwhose sensor signal is not only dependent on a total light power of theillumination of the sensor region, for example of the sensor area, ofthese sensors but in which a pronounced signal dependence on a geometryof the illumination, for example a size of a light spot of theillumination on the sensor region, for example the sensor area, alsoexists. This is generally not the case for most conventional opticalsensors, in particular for most inorganic semiconductor sensors, sincehere the sensor signal is generally dependent only on a total power ofthe illumination, that is to say an integral over the intensity over theentire light spot which is generally independent of the size of thelight spot, that is to say the geometry of the illumination, as long asthe light spot lies within the limits of the sensor region. It hassurprisingly been discovered, however, that in specific optical sensors,for example organic optical sensors, such a dependence of the sensorsignal occurs in which the sensor signal on the one hand rises with thetotal power of the illumination, but on the other hand, even given aconstant total power, is dependent on a geometry of the illumination.Examples of such optical sensors are explained in even greater detailbelow. By way of example, the sensor signal, given the same total power,can have at least one pronounced maximum for one or a plurality offocusings and/or for one or a plurality of specific sizes of the lightspot on the sensor area or within the sensor region. This effect canadditionally be dependent on, or intensified by, a frequency of theillumination by virtue of the fact that the electromagnetic radiationwith which the sensor region is illuminated is not incident continuouslyon the sensor region, but rather is interrupted, for example interruptedperiodically with a frequency f. The described optical sensors whichhave the stated effect of the dependence of the sensor signal, given thesame total power of the illumination on a geometry of the illuminationand optionally on a frequency of the illumination, are also designatedhereinafter as fip sensors since, given the same total power p, thesensor signal can be dependent on the intensity i and optionally thefrequency f or since the sensor signal, given the same total power p,can be dependent on an optical flux density φ. By way of example, thesensor signal can comprise a photocurrent and/or a photovoltage. By wayof example, the photocurrent can thus be a function of the total powerp, of the flux φ and/or of the geometry of the illumination (e.g. of adiameter or an equivalent diameter of a light spot) and optionally ofthe frequency, or for example a function of the total power p, of theintensity (for example of a maximum intensity) and of the frequency.

Such effects of the dependence of the sensor signal on a beam geometrywere observed in the context of the investigations leading to thepresent invention in particular in the case of organic photovoltaiccomponents, that is to say photovoltaic components, for example, solarcells, which comprise at least one organic material, for example atleast one organic p-semiconducting material and/or at least one organicdye. By way of example, such effects, as is explained in even greaterdetail below by way of example, were observed in the case of dye solarcells, that is to say components which have at least one firstelectrode, at least one n-semiconducting metal oxide, at least one dye,at least one p-semiconducting organic material, preferably a solidorganic p-type semiconductor, and at least one second electrode. Suchdye solar cells, preferably solid dye solar cells (solid dye sensitizedsolar cells, sDSC), are known in principle in numerous variations fromthe literature. The described effect of the dependence of the sensorsignal on a geometry of the illumination on the sensor area and a use ofthis effect have not, however, been described heretofore.

In particular, the optical sensor can be designed in such a way that thesensor signal, given the same total power of the illumination, issubstantially independent of a size of the sensor region, in particularof a size of the sensor area, in particular as long as the light spot ofthe illumination lies completely within the sensor region, in particularthe sensor area. Consequently, the sensor signal can be dependentexclusively on a focusing of the electromagnetic rays on the sensorarea. In particular the sensor signal can be embodied in such a way thata photocurrent and/or a photovoltage per sensor area have/has the samevalues given the same illumination, for example the same values giventhe same size of the light spot.

Consequently, by means of the optical detector, for example by asuitable calibration and/or by a suitable analysis of the sensor signalof the optical sensor, at least one additional item of information canbe obtained, which is designated hereinafter as geometrical information.The detector comprises at least one evaluation device which is designedto generate the at least one item of geometrical information from thesensor signal.

An item of geometrical information should be understood to mean, inprinciple, any desired item of information which can be derived directlyor indirectly from the abovementioned effect that the sensor signal,given the same total power of the illumination, is dependent on thegeometry of the illumination. The geometrical information can comprise,in particular, at least one item of information about the illumination,in particular a geometry of the illumination, and/or at least one itemof geometrical information about the object. The geometrical informationcan, in particular, go beyond an item of information about the lightpower alone. The geometrical information can preferably comprise atleast one item of information about the geometry of the illuminationand/or at least one item of information about at least one influencingvariable which influences the geometry of the illumination for examplean item of information about a distance of the object.

Particularly preferably the geometrical information comprises at leastone item of information, selected from the group consisting of: an itemof information about the fact that the object is present or not forexample in a measurement range and/or visual range of the detector; anitem of information about at least one optical property of the detector,for example, at least one brightness and/or at least one radiationproperty, for example a luminescence property; an item of locationinformation of the object, for example, an item of information about adistance between the object and the detector or a part of the detectorand/or a relative orientation of the object with respect to the detectoror a part of the detector and/or an item of position information of theobject in at least one coordinate system which is determined by thedetector and/or the object; an item of information about a movementstate of the object, for example a one-dimensional, two-dimensional orthree-dimensional velocity of the object and/or an acceleration of theobject; an item of information about a geometry of the illumination ofthe sensor region; an item of information about the fact that anillumination has taken place or is taking place with a specificgeometry, in particular an inhomogeneous illumination of the sensorregion, in particular a focused illumination, for example anillumination in which at least one light spot is produced on a sensorarea. Alternatively or additionally, the geometrical information canalso comprise one or a plurality of other items of information. Theinvention is described below substantially with reference to obtainingan item of geometrical information in the form of at least one item oflocation information about the object. Said location information canrelate to the entire object or else only a part of the object, forexample a point, an area or a region of the object which is detected bymeans of the detector. This point, this area or this region can bearranged on a surface of the object or else at least partly within theobject.

The geometrical information can be generated in any desired form, inprinciple. Preferably, the geometrical information is generated in amachine-readable form and/or a form that can be used by a machine. Byway of example, the geometrical information can be generated in the formof at least one electrical and/or optical signal. Alternatively oradditionally, the geometrical information can also be generated in aform that can be read and/or detected by a human, for example byprintout on paper, by display on a screen, by an output in visual form,by an output in acoustic form, by an output in haptic form or by acombination of two or more of the stated and/or other output forms thatcan be detected by a human. The geometrical information may have beenstored or can be stored in particular on at least one volatile ornonvolatile data memory which can be for example wholly or partly aconstituent part of the evaluation device and/or of some other device.Alternatively or additionally, the at least one item of geometricalinformation can also be provided and/or transferred by means of at leastone interface, for example by means of at least one output device.

An evaluation device should generally be understood to mean a devicewhich is designed to generate the at least one item of geometricalinformation from the at least one sensor signal, using theabove-described effect that the sensor signal, given the same totalpower of the illumination, is dependent on the geometry of theillumination. In particular, in this case it is possible to use a knownrelationship between the geometry of the illumination and thegeometrical function, as is explained in even greater detail below byway of example.

The evaluation device can comprise in particular at least one dataprocessing device, in particular an electronic data processing device,which can be designed to use the at least one sensor signal as at leastone input variable and to generate the at least geometrical informationusing said input variable, for example by calculation and/or using atleast one stored and/or known relationship. Besides the at least onesensor signal, one or a plurality of further parameters and/or items ofinformation can influence said relationship, for example at least oneitem of information about a modulation frequency. In this case, therelationship can be determined or determinable empirically, analyticallyor else semi-empirically. Particularly preferably, the relationshipcomprises at least one calibration curve, at least one set ofcalibration curves, at least one function or a combination of thepossibilities mentioned. One or a plurality of calibration curves can bestored for example in the form of a set of values and the associatedfunction values thereof, for example in a data storage device and/or atable. Alternatively or additionally, however, the at least onecalibration curve can also be stored for example in parameterized formand/or as a functional equation. Various possibilities are conceivableand can also be combined.

By way of example, the evaluation device can be designed in terms ofprogramming for the purpose of determining the at least one item ofgeometrical information. The evaluation device can comprise inparticular at least one computer, for example at least onemicrocomputer. Furthermore, the evaluation device can comprise one or aplurality of volatile or nonvolatile data memories. As an alternative orin addition to a data processing device, in particular at least onecomputer, the evaluation device can comprise one or a plurality offurther electronic components which are designed for determining the atleast one item of geometrical information using the at least one sensorsignal, for example an electronic table and in particular at least onelook-up table and/or at least one application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC).

The geometrical information allows a multiplicity of possible uses ofsuch detectors, which will be described by way of example hereinafter.By way of example, as is explained in even greater detail below, atleast one item of location information of the object can be generatedfrom said geometrical information, or the geometrical information cancomprise the at least one item of location information, since forexample a geometry of the illumination, for example a diameter orequivalent diameter of the light spot on the sensor area, can bedependent on a distance between the object and the detector and/or theoptional transfer device of the detector, for example at least onedetector lens. By way of example, a variation of the distance betweenthe object and a lens of the optional transfer device can lead to adefocusing of the illumination on the sensor region, accompanied by achange in the geometry of the illumination, for example a widening of alight spot, which can result in a correspondingly altered sensor signal.Even without a transfer device, by way of example, from a known beamprofile from the sensor signal and/or a variation thereof, for example,by means of a known beam profile and/or a known propagation of theelectromagnetic rays, it is possible to deduce a defocusing and/or thegeometrical information. By way of example, given a known total power ofthe illumination, it is thus possible to deduce from the sensor signalof the optical sensor a geometry of the illumination and therefrom inturn the geometrical information, in particular at least one item oflocation information of the object.

Preferably, at least two sensor signals are detected. If the total powerof the illumination is not known, for example, then for example at leasttwo sensor signals can be generated, for example at least two sensorsignals at different frequencies of a modulation of the illumination,wherein, from the at least two sensor signals, for example by comparisonwith corresponding calibration curves, it is possible to deduce thetotal power and/or the geometry of the illumination, and/or therefrom ordirectly the at least one item of geometrical information, in particularthe at least one item of location information, of the object. In anycase, the detector can thus be designed to generate, in particular onthe basis of the effect described, the at least one item of geometricalinformation, which preferably goes beyond pure information about thetotal power of the illumination.

The detector described can advantageously be developed in various ways.Thus, the detector can furthermore have at least one modulation devicefor modulating the illumination, in particular for periodic modulation,in particular a periodic beam interrupting device. A modulation of theillumination should be understood to mean a process in which a totalpower of the illumination is varied, preferably periodically, inparticular with one or a plurality of modulation frequencies. Inparticular, a periodic modulation can be effected between a maximumvalue and a minimum value of the total power of the illumination. Theminimum value can be 0, but can also be >0, such that, by way ofexample, complete modulation does not have to be effected. Themodulation can be effected for example in a beam path between the objectand the optical sensor, for example by the at least one modulationdevice being arranged in said beam path. Alternatively or additionally,however, the modulation can also be effected in a beam path between anoptional illumination source—described in even greater detail below—forilluminating the object and the object, for example by the at least onemodulation device being arranged in said beam path. A combination ofthese possibilities is also conceivable. The at least one modulationdevice can comprise for example a beam chopper or some other type ofperiodic beam interrupting device, for example comprising at least oneinterrupter blade or interrupter wheel, which preferably rotates atconstant speed and which can thus periodically interrupt theillumination. Alternatively or additionally, however, it is alsopossible to use one or a plurality of different types of modulationdevices, for example modulation devices based on an electro-opticaleffect and/or an acousto-optical effect. Once again alternatively oradditionally, the at least one optional illumination source itself canalso be designed to generate a modulated illumination, for example bysaid illumination source itself having a modulated intensity and/ortotal power, for example a periodically modulated total power, and/or bysaid illumination source being embodied as a pulsed illumination source,for example as a pulsed laser. Thus, by way of example, the at least onemodulation device can also be wholly or partly integrated into theillumination source. Various possibilities are conceivable.

The detector can be designed in particular to detect at least two sensorsignals in the case of different modulations, in particular at least twosensor signals at respectively different modulation frequencies. Theevaluation device can be designed to generate the geometricalinformation from the at least two sensor signals. As described above, inthis way, by way of example, it is possible to resolve ambiguitiesand/or it is possible to take account of the fact that, for example, atotal power of the illumination is generally unknown.

Further possible embodiments of the detector relate to the embodiment ofthe at least one optional transfer device. As explained above, said atleast one transfer device can have imaging properties or else can beembodied as a pure non-imaging transfer device, which has no influenceon a focusing of the illumination. It is particularly preferred,however, if the transfer device has at least one imaging element, forexample at least one lens and/or at least one curved mirror, since, inthe case of such imaging elements, for example, a geometry of theillumination on the sensor region can be dependent on a relativepositioning, for example a distance, between the transfer device and theobject. Generally, it is particularly preferred if the transfer deviceis designed in such a way that the electromagnetic radiation whichemerges from the object is transferred completely to the sensor region,for example is focused completely onto the sensor region, in particularthe sensor area, in particular if the object is arranged in a visualrange of the detector.

As explained above, the optical sensor can furthermore be designed insuch a way that the sensor signal, given the same total power of theillumination, is dependent on a modulation frequency of a modulation ofthe illumination. The detector can be embodied, in particular, asexplained above, in such a way that sensor signals at differentmodulation frequencies are picked up, for example in order to generateone or a plurality of further items of information about the object. Asdescribed above, by way of example, a sensor signal at least twodifferent modulation frequencies can in each case be picked up, wherein,by way of example, in this way, a lack of information about a totalpower of the illumination can be supplemented. By way of example, bycomparing the at least two sensor signals picked up at differentmodulation frequencies with one or a plurality of calibration curves,which can be stored for example in a data storage device of thedetector, even in the case of an unknown total power of theillumination, it is possible to deduce a geometry of the illumination,for example a diameter or an equivalent diameter of a light spot on thesensor area. For this purpose, by way of example, it is possible to usethe at least one evaluation device described above, for example at leastone data processing data, which can be designed to control suchpicking-up of sensor signals at different frequencies and which can bedesigned to compare said sensor signals with the at least onecalibration curve in order to generate therefrom the geometricalinformation, for example information about a geometry of theillumination, for example information about a diameter or equivalentdiameter of a light spot of the illumination on a sensor area of theoptical sensor. Furthermore, as is explained in even greater detailbelow, the evaluation device can alternatively or additionally bedesigned to generate at least one item of geometrical information aboutthe object, for example at least one item of location information. Thisgeneration of the at least one item of geometrical information, asexplained above, can be effected for example taking account of at leastone known relationship between a positioning of the object relative tothe detector and/or the transfer device or a part thereof and a size ofa light spot, for example empirically, semi-empirically or analyticallyusing corresponding imaging equations.

In contrast to known detectors, in which a spatial resolution and/orimaging of objects is also generally tied to the fact that the smallestpossible sensor areas are used, for example the smallest possible pixelsin the case of CCD chips, the sensor region of the proposed detector canbe embodied in a very large fashion, in principle, since for example thegeometrical information, in particular the at least one item of locationinformation, about the object can be generated from a known relationshipfor example between the geometry of the illumination and the sensorsignal. Accordingly, the sensor region can have for example a sensorarea, for example an optical sensor area, which is at least 0.001 mm²,in particular at least 0.01 mm², preferably at least 0.1 mm², morepreferably at least 1 mm², more preferably at least 5 mm², morepreferably at least 10 mm², in particular at least 100 mm² or at least1000 mm² or even at least 10 000 mm². In particular, sensor areas of 100cm² or more can be used. The sensor area can generally be adapted to theapplication. In particular, the sensor area should be chosen in such away that, at least if the object is situated within a visual range ofthe detector, preferably within a predefined viewing angle and/or apredefined distance from the detector, the light spot is always arrangedwithin the sensor area. In this way, it can be ensured that the lightspot is not trimmed by the limits of the sensor region, as a result ofwhich signal corruption could occur.

As described above, the sensor region can be in particular a continuoussensor region, in particular a continuous sensor area, which canpreferably generate a uniform, in particular a single, sensor signal.Consequently, the sensor signal can be in particular a uniform sensorsignal for the entire sensor region, that is to say a sensor signal towhich each partial region of the sensor region contributes, for exampleadditively. The sensor signal can generally, as explained above, inparticular be selected from the group consisting of a photocurrent and aphotovoltage.

The optical sensor can comprise in particular at least one semiconductordetector and/or be at least one semiconductor detector. In particular,the optical sensor can comprise at least one organic semiconductordetector or be at least one organic semiconductor detector, that is tosay a semiconductor detector comprising at least one organicsemiconducting material and/or at least one organic sensor material, forexample at least one organic dye. Preferably, the organic semiconductordetector can comprise at least one organic solar cell and particularlypreferably a dye solar cell, in particular a solid dye solar cell.Exemplary embodiments of such preferred solid dye solar cells areexplained in even greater detail below.

In particular, the optical sensor can comprise at least one firstelectrode, at least one n-semiconducting metal oxide, at least one dye,at least one p-semiconducting organic material, preferably at least onesolid p-semiconducting organic material, and at least one secondelectrode. Generally, however, it is pointed out that the describedeffect in which the sensor signal, given a constant total power, isdependent on a geometry of the illumination of the sensor region is withhigh probability not restricted to organic solar cells and in particularnot to dye solar cells. Without intending to restrict the scope ofprotection of the invention by this theory, and without the inventionbeing bound to the correctness of this theory, it is supposed thatgenerally photovoltaic elements are suitable as optical sensors in whichat least one semiconducting material having trap states is used.Consequently, the optical sensor can comprise at least onen-semiconducting material and/or at least one p-semiconducting materialwhich can have for example a conduction band and a valence band,wherein, in the case of organic materials, conduction band and valenceband should correspondingly be replaced by LUMO (lowest unoccupiedmolecular orbital) and HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital). Trapstates should be understood to mean energetically possible states whichare disposed between the conduction band (or LUMO) and the valence band(or HOMO) and which can be occupied by charge carriers. By way ofexample, it is possible to provide trap states for hole conduction whichare disposed at least one distance ΔE_(h) above the valence band (orHOMO) and/or trap states for electron conduction which are disposed atleast one distance ΔE_(e) below the conduction band (or LUMO). Suchtraps can be achieved for example by impurities and/or defects, whichcan optionally also be introduced in a targeted manner, or can bepresent intrinsically. By way of example, in the case of a lowintensity, that is to say for example in the case of a light spot havinga large diameter, only a low current can flow, since firstly the trapstates are occupied before holes in the conduction band or electrons inthe valence band contribute to a photocurrent. It is only starting froma higher intensity, that is to say for example starting from a moreintense focusing of the light spot in the sensor region, that aconsiderable photocurrent can then flow. The described frequencydependence can be explained for example by the fact that charge carriersleave the traps again after a residence duration τ, such that thedescribed effect occurs only in the case of modulated illumination witha high modulation frequency. By way of example, the detector can bedesigned to bring about a modulation of the illumination of the sensorregion with a frequency of at least 1 Hz, preferably at least 10 Hz, inparticular at least 100 Hz and particularly preferably at least 1 kHz.The trap states can be present for example with a density of 10⁻⁵ to10⁻¹, relative to the n-semiconducting material and/or thep-semiconducting material and/or the dye. The energy differences ΔE withrespect to the conduction band and with respect to the valence band canbe in particular 0.05-0.3 eV.

The detector has, as described above, at least one evaluation device. Inparticular, the at least one evaluation device can also be designed tocompletely or partly control or drive the detector, for example by theevaluation device being designed to control one or a plurality ofmodulation devices of the detector and/or to control at least oneillumination source of the detector. The evaluation device can bedesigned, in particular, to carry out at least one measurement cycle inwhich one or a plurality of sensor signals are picked up, for example aplurality of sensor signals successively at different modulationfrequencies of the illumination.

The evaluation device is designed, as described above, to generate theat least one item of geometrical information from the at least onesensor signal. The at least one item of geometrical information can, inparticular, as explained above, comprise at least one item of locationinformation of the object and/or can be at least one item of locationinformation of the object. In this case, an item of location informationshould generally be understood to mean an item of information which isadapted and/or suited to characterize at least one location and/or atleast one orientation of the object or of a part of the object, forexample of a region of the object, from which the electromagneticradiation emerges. Said at least one item of location information can bestatic, that is to say can comprise for example a single item oflocation information or a plurality of items of location informationwhich are picked up at the same time, but can, alternatively oradditionally, also comprise a plurality of items of location informationwhich are picked up at different times. By way of example, in this way,the at least one item of location information can also comprise at leastone item of information about at least one movement, for example arelative movement between the detector or parts thereof and the objector parts thereof. In this case, a relative movement can generallycomprise at least one linear movement and/or at least one rotationalmovement. Items of movement information can for example also be obtainedby comparison of at least two items of location information picked up atdifferent times, such that for example at least one item of locationinformation can also comprise at least one item of velocity informationand/or at least one item of acceleration information, for example atleast one item of information about at least one relative velocitybetween the object or parts thereof and the detector or parts thereof.In particular, the at least one item of location information cangenerally be selected from: an item of information about a distancebetween the object or parts thereof and the detector or parts thereof,in particular an optical path length; an item of information about adistance or an optical distance between the object or parts thereof andthe optional transfer device or parts thereof; an item of informationabout a positioning of the object or parts thereof relative to thedetector or parts thereof; an item of information about an orientationof the object and/or parts thereof relative to the detector or partsthereof; an item of information about a relative movement between theobject or parts thereof and the detector or parts thereof; an item ofinformation about a two-dimensional or three-dimensional spatialconfiguration of the object or of parts thereof, in particular ageometry or form of the object. Generally, the at least one item oflocation information can therefore be selected for example from thegroup consisting of: an item of information about at least one locationof the object or at least one part thereof; information about at leastone orientation of the object or a part thereof; an item of informationabout a geometry or form of the object or of a part thereof, an item ofinformation about a velocity of the object or of a part thereof, an itemof information about an acceleration of the object or of a part thereof,an item of information about a presence or absence of the object or of apart thereof in a visual range of the detector.

The at least one item of location information can be specified forexample in at least one coordinate system, for example a coordinatesystem in which the detector or parts thereof rest. Alternatively oradditionally, the location information can also simply comprise forexample a distance between the detector or parts thereof and the objector parts thereof. Combinations of the possibilities mentioned are alsoconceivable.

The evaluation device can, as explained above, in particular be designedto determine the geometrical information from at least one predefinedrelationship between the geometry of the illumination, for example adiameter or equivalent diameter of a luminous spot on the sensor regionand/or the sensor area, and a relative positioning of the object withrespect to the detector, for example a distance and/or an optical pathlength between object and detector, preferably taking account of a knownpower of the illumination and optionally taking account of a modulationfrequency with which the illumination is modulated. By way of example,the evaluation device can comprise at least one data storage device inwhich is stored a predefined relationship between a distance betweendetector and object and a geometry of the illumination, for example adiameter or equivalent diameter of a luminous spot on the sensor region.Said relationship can be stored for example in discrete fashion orcontinuously or else in the form of a function. By way of example, saidrelationship can comprise at least one calibration function. Therelationship can for example also be stored in an electronic table, forexample a so-called look-up table. If a power of the illumination is notknown, then, as explained above, for example the evaluation device canbe designed to pick up sensor signals at least two different modulationfrequencies of the illumination. Generally, the evaluation device can bedesigned for example to deduce in one or a plurality of steps, firstly,for example, from the at least one sensor signal, the geometry of theillumination, for example a diameter or equivalent diameter of aluminous spot on the sensor region or the sensor area. Furthermore, theevaluation device can be designed to deduce the at least one item ofgeometrical information from this determined geometry, preferably takingaccount of the modulation frequency. These two deductions can also becombined in one step, such that, by way of example, the evaluationdevice can be designed to directly deduce the geometrical information,in particular the location information, from the at least one sensorsignal. Examples of such relationships by means of which the evaluationdevice can generate the at least one item of geometrical information areexplained in even greater detail below, including possible calibrationcurves. In particular in the case of a relationship between the geometryof the illumination and the geometrical information, in this case it isalso possible to use analytical or semi-empirical models, for exampleimaging equations. Thus, by way of example, the illumination can beeffected by means of one or a plurality of Gaussian beams, wherein forexample the at least one item of geometrical information can begenerated by the beam geometry and the Gaussian beam parameters of theillumination, for example by means of corresponding optical matrixcalculations. By way of example, imaging parameters of the optionaltransfer device can be known, for example one or a plurality of focallengths of one or a plurality of lenses and/or curved mirrors of thetransfer device, such that, by way of example, a relationship between apositioning of the object relative to the transfer device and a geometryof the illumination of the sensor region, for example a diameter orequivalent diameter of the luminous spot, can be calculated. By way ofexample, Gaussian matrix optics and/or some other form of an imagingequation can be used for this purpose.

As explained above, the detector can furthermore comprise at least oneillumination source for generating electromagnetic rays. Theillumination source can be designed in particular to bring about theillumination of the sensor region. Thus, the illumination source can bedesigned for example to generate a primary radiation with which theobject or a part of the object is irradiated, whereupon theelectromagnetic radiation emerges from the object and is transferred tothe optical sensor and the sensor region thereof, for example by meansof the at least one optional transfer device. As explained above, theelectromagnetic radiation by means of which the sensor region isilluminated can comprise for example the primary radiation in reflectedor scattered form. Alternatively or additionally, however, for examplean influencing of the primary radiation can also be effected, forexample a spectral shift and/or a process in which the primary radiationemitted by the illumination source excites the object or a part thereofto emit the electromagnetic radiation, for example by excitation ofluminescence.

The illumination source can be embodied in various ways. Thus, theillumination source can be for example part of the detector in adetector housing. Alternatively or additionally, however, the at leastone illumination source can also be arranged outside a detector housing,for example as a separate light source. The illumination source can bearranged separately from the object and illuminate the object from adistance. Alternatively or additionally, the illumination source canalso be connected to the object or even be part of the object, suchthat, by way of example, the electromagnetic radiation emerging from theobject can also be generated directly by the illumination source. By wayof example, at least one illumination source can be arranged on and/orin the object and directly generate the electromagnetic radiation bymeans of which the sensor region is illuminated. By way of example, atleast one infrared emitter and/or at least one emitter for visible lightand/or at least one emitter for ultraviolet light can be arranged on theobject. By way of example, at least one light emitting diode and/or atleast one laser diode can be arranged on and/or in the object. Theillumination source can comprise in particular one or a plurality of thefollowing illumination sources: a laser, in particular a laser diode,although in principle, alternatively or additionally, other types oflasers can also be used; a light emitting diode; an incandescent lamp;an organic light source, in particular an organic light emitting diode.Alternatively or additionally, other illumination sources can also beused. It is particularly preferred if the illumination source isdesigned to generate electromagnetic beams having a Gaussian beamprofile, as is at least approximately the case for example in manylasers. However, other embodiments are also possible, in principle.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the optional transfer devicedescribed above can be embodied independently of the optional at leastone illumination source. Alternatively or additionally, however, the atleast one transfer device can also already be wholly or partlyintegrated into the illumination source or be wholly or partly identicalto said illumination source. Thus, the illumination source itself canalready be designed to feed the electromagnetic radiation to the sensorregion, for example by a corresponding orientation toward the sensorregion and/or by a focusing and/or a corresponding beam profile. By wayof example, the illumination source can comprise at least one laserwhich can already generate at least one laser beam having a known beamprofile, for example a Gaussian beam profile, such that, by way ofexample, it is possible to dispense with beam shaping by one or aplurality of lens systems, since, by way of example, from correspondingequations a propagation of Gaussian beams, from a known beam geometryupon identification of a geometry of the illumination on the sensorregion, for example a diameter or equivalent diameter of a luminous spoton the sensor region, a distance between the illumination source and thedetector and/or the object and the detector can be deduced.Alternatively or additionally, however, the transfer device can compriseone or a plurality of additional imaging elements, for example one or aplurality of lenses and/or objectives. Alternatively or additionally, byway of example, one or a plurality of deflection elements can beincluded, for example one or a plurality of mirrors and/or one or aplurality of prisms.

Generally, therefore, as already mentioned above, the illuminationsource can in particular be selected in particular from an illuminationsource which is at least partly connected to the object and/or is atleast partly identical to the object, and an illumination source whichis designed to at least partly illuminate the object. Various otherembodiments are possible and are described in even greater detail belowby way of example.

The detector can therefore comprise at least one illumination source.The illumination source can be designed in particular to illuminate theobject with at least one primary radiation. Said at least one primaryradiation can comprise electromagnetic radiation, for example light, butcan, alternatively or additionally, also comprise at least one radiationof a different type, for example a particle radiation. Theelectromagnetic radiation which emerges from the object and which is fedto the optical sensor and illuminates the sensor region in the processcan, as already described in part above, comprise in particular areflected radiation, wherein the reflected radiation can comprise atleast part of the primary radiation after reflection at the object.Alternatively or additionally, the electromagnetic radiation emergingfrom the object can also comprise at least one scattered radiation,wherein the scattered radiation comprises at least one part of theprimary radiation after scattering at the object. As explained above,this scattering can be effected without spectral properties beinginfluenced or else with spectral properties being influenced. Once againalternatively or additionally, the electromagnetic radiation emergingfrom the object can also comprise at least one luminescent radiationwhich is excited by the primary radiation. Said luminescent radiationcan comprise for example a fluorescent radiation and/or a phosphorusradiation. Other possibilities for the embodiment of the electromagneticradiation which emerges from the object, or combinations of the statedand/or other possibilities, are also conceivable.

A further aspect of the present invention proposes a distance measuringdevice, in particular for use in a motor vehicle. In this case, adistance measuring device should be understood to mean a device which isdesigned to generate at least one item of location information of atleast one object, for example relative to the distance measuring deviceitself. As explained above, said at least one item of locationinformation can comprise for example a simple distance between thedistance measuring device and the object, but can also generallycomprise at least one item of information about a positioning of theobject relative to the distance measuring device, for example a spatialpositioning in at least one coordinate system and/or an orientation ofthe object in at least one coordinate system. For further embodiments ofthe at least one item of location information, reference can be made tothe above description.

The proposed distance measuring device accordingly comprises at leastone detector in accordance with one or a plurality of the embodimentsdescribed above, wherein the detector is designed to determine at leastone item of geometrical information of at least one object, wherein thegeometrical information comprises at least one item of locationinformation of the object, in particular a distance between a motorvehicle and at least one object and preferably a distance between themotor vehicle and at least one object selected from the group consistingof a further motor vehicle, an obstacle, a cyclist and a pedestrian. Inparticular, the detector can be completely or partly integrated in oneor a plurality of motor vehicles and can be designed to determine adistance between a motor vehicle and at least one object, for example adistance between two motor vehicles and/or a distance between the motorvehicle and at least one object selected from the group consisting of afurther motor vehicle, an obstacle, a cyclist, a pedestrian or someother kind of traffic participant. The detector can be for examplecompletely integrated into the motor vehicle, but can also be arrangedfor example in a manner distributed over a plurality of motor vehicles.By way of example, as is explained in even greater detail below by wayof example, the distance measuring device can comprise at least onedetector and at least one illumination source, wherein, by way ofexample, the at least one illumination source is arranged on a rear sideof a first motor vehicle, and the detector is arranged on a front sideof at least one second motor vehicle, such that, by way of example, adistance between a front side of the second motor vehicle and a rearside of the first motor vehicle can be determined. Alternatively oradditionally, at least one illumination source and at least one detectorcan also be integrated into one and the same motor vehicle, for exampleon a front side and/or a rear side of the motor vehicle. Thus, by way ofexample, the illumination source can be designed to illuminate a motorvehicle ahead and/or a following motor vehicle with primary radiation,and the detector can be designed to detect the electromagnetic radiationemerging from said motor vehicle, as described above, and to generatethe location information therefrom.

A further aspect of the present invention proposes an imaging device forimaging at least one sample. In this case, an imaging device shouldgenerally be understood to mean a device which can generate aone-dimensional, a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional image of thesample or of a part of said sample.

In particular, the imaging device can be completely or partly used as amicroscope. Preferably, the image device is designed for confocalimaging, that is to say has a confocal construction, or is designed as aconfocal microscope. Other embodiments of the imaging device are alsopossible in principle, however, and are described in even greater detailbelow by way of example.

The imaging device has at least one detector in accordance with one ormore of the embodiments described above. The imaging device isfurthermore designed to image a plurality of partial regions of thesample successively or simultaneously onto the at least one sensorregion of the detector. In this case, by way of example, a partialregion of the sample can be a one-dimensional, two-dimensional orthree-dimensional region of the sample which is delimited for example bya resolution limit of the imaging device and from which electromagneticradiation emerges, which, on the sensor region of the detector, leads toan illumination, for example a common luminous spot, in particular on asensor area. The plurality of partial regions can be imaged successivelyand/or simultaneously onto the at least one sensor region. In thiscontext, imaging should be understood to mean that electromagneticradiation of the sample emerging from the respective partial region isfed to the optical sensor, for example by means of the at least oneoptional transfer device of the detector.

With regard to the possible embodiments of the optional transfer device,reference can be made to the above description. In particular, thetransfer device can have imaging properties and can comprise for exampleat least one imaging element, for example at least one lens and/or atleast one curved mirror. In particular, the imaging device can bedesigned to image sequentially, for example by means of a scanningmethod, in particular using at least one row scan and/or line scan, theplurality of partial regions sequentially onto the sensor region.However, other embodiments are also possible, in principle, for exampleembodiments in which a plurality of partial regions are simultaneouslyimaged onto the at least one sensor region, for example by at least onesensor region being assigned to each partial region. By way of example,it is possible to use a detector having a plurality of sensor regions,for example in accordance with one or more of the embodiments describedabove.

The imaging device is designed to generate, during this imaging of thepartial regions of the sample, sensor signals assigned to the partialregions. By way of example, a sensor signal can be assigned to eachpartial region. The sensor signals can accordingly be generatedsimultaneously or else in a temporally staggered manner. By way ofexample, during a row scan or line scan, it is possible to generate asequence of sensor signals which correspond to the partial regions ofthe sample, which are strung together in a line, for example. Theimaging device is designed to generate from the sensor signals items ofgeometrical information of the respective partial regions, wherein theitems of geometrical information comprise items of location information.

With regard to the embodiment of the items of location information andthe various possibilities for generating these items of locationinformation, reference can be made to the above description. Theelectromagnetic rays emerging from the sample can once again begenerated by the sample itself, for example in the form of a luminescentradiation. Alternatively or additionally, the imaging device or the atleast one detector can also once again comprise at least oneillumination source for illuminating the sample. For further possibleembodiments of the imaging device, in particular for use in microscopy,reference can be made to the exemplary embodiments below.

A further aspect of the present invention proposes a human-machineinterface for exchanging at least one item of information between a userand a machine. A human-machine interface should generally be understoodto mean a device by means of which such information can be exchanged.The machine can comprise in particular a data processing device. The atleast one item of information can generally comprise for example dataand/or control commands. Thus, the human-machine interface can bedesigned in particular for the inputting of control commands by theuser.

The human-machine interface has at least one detector in accordance withone or a plurality of the embodiments described above. The human-machineinterface is designed to generate at least one item of geometricalinformation, in particular at least one item of location information, ofthe user by means of the detector. By way of example, said at least oneitem of geometrical information can be or comprise an item of locationinformation about a body part of the user, for example an item oflocation information about a hand posture and/or a posture of some otherbody part of the user.

In this case, the term user should be interpreted broadly and can forexample also encompass one or a plurality of articles directlyinfluenced by the user. Thus, the user can for example also wear one ora plurality of gloves and/or other garments, wherein the geometricalinformation is at least one item of geometrical information of this atleast one garment. By way of example, such garments can be embodied asreflective to a primary radiation emerging from at least oneillumination source, for example by the use of one or a plurality ofreflectors. Once again alternatively or additionally, the user can forexample spatially move one or a plurality of articles whose geometricalinformation can be detected, which is likewise also intended to besubsumable under generation of at least one item of geometricalinformation of the user. By way of example, the user can move at leastone reflective rod and/or some other type of article, for example bymeans of said user's hand.

With regard to the embodiment of the at least one item of geometricalinformation, in particular the at least one item of locationinformation, reference can likewise once again be made to the abovedescription. The at least one item of geometrical information can bestatic, that is to say can for example once again comprise a snapshot,but can also for example once again comprise a series of sequentialitems of geometrical information and/or at least one movement. By way ofexample, at least two items of geometrical information picked up atdifferent times can be compared, such that, by way of example, the atleast one item of geometrical information can also comprise at least oneitem of information about a velocity and/or an acceleration of amovement. Accordingly, the at least one item of geometrical informationcan for example comprise at least one item of information about at leastone body posture and/or about at least one movement of the user.

The human-machine interface is designed to assign to the at least oneitem of geometrical information at least one item of information, inparticular at least one control command. As explained above, the terminformation should in this case be interpreted broadly and can comprisefor example data and/or control commands. By way of example, thehuman-machine interface can be designed to assign the at least one itemof information to the at least one item of geometrical information, forexample by means of a corresponding assignment algorithm and/or a storedassignment specification. By way of example, a unique assignment betweena set of items of geometrical information and corresponding items ofinformation can be stored. In this way, for example by means of acorresponding body posture and/or movement of the user, an inputting ofat least one item of information can be effected.

Such human-machine interfaces can generally be used in the machinecontrol or else for example in virtual reality. By way of example, robotcontrollers, vehicle controllers or similar controllers can be madepossible by means of the human-machine interface having the one or theplurality of detectors. However, the use of such a human-machineinterface in consumer electronics is particularly preferred.Accordingly, a further aspect of the present invention proposes anentertainment device for carrying out at least one entertainmentfunction, in particular a game. The entertainment function can comprisein particular at least one game function. By way of example, one or aplurality of games can be stored which can be influencable by a user,who in this context is also called a player hereinafter. By way ofexample, the entertainment device can comprise at least one displaydevice, for example at least one screen and/or at least one projectorand/or at least one set of display spectacles.

The entertainment device furthermore comprises at least onehuman-machine interface in accordance with one or more of theembodiments described above. The entertainment device is designed toenable at least one item of information of a player to be input by meansof the human-machine interface. By way of example, the player, asdescribed above, can adopt or alter one or a plurality of body posturesfor this purpose. This includes the possibility of the player forexample using corresponding articles for this purpose, for examplegarments such as e.g. gloves, for example garments which are equippedwith one or a plurality of reflectors for reflecting the electromagneticradiation of the detector. The at least one item of information cancomprise for example, as explained above, one or a plurality of controlcommands. By way of example, in this way, changes in direction can beperformed, inputs can be confirmed, a selection can be made from a menu,specific game options can be initiated, movements can be influenced in avirtual space or similar instances of influencing or altering theentertainment function can be performed.

A further aspect of the present invention proposes using the detector ina security device. As described above, by means of the detector, inparticular the at least one evaluation device, it is possible togenerate at least one item of geometrical information which preferablygoes beyond a pure item of information about the total power of theillumination. Said at least one item of geometrical information can,inter alia, also be or comprise an item of information about the factthat an illumination has taken place or is taking place with a specificgeometry, in particular an inhomogeneous illumination of the sensorregion, in particular a focused illumination, for example anillumination in which at least one light spot is produced on a sensorarea. The proposed security device is therefore based for example on theinsight that, by means of the proposed detector, it is possible toidentify if intensive electromagnetic radiation, for example a focusedlight beam and in particular a laser beam, impinges on an articlecomprising the detector. By way of example, in this way it can beidentified that a read-out of optically readable data of an optical datastorage device has been effected, for example of a CD-ROM, of a bar codeor of some other type of data storage device.

Accordingly, a security device for carrying out at least one securityapplication is proposed. A security device should generally beunderstood to mean a device which fulfils at least one securityfunction, for example a function which recognizes an access to data andcan optionally implement one or a plurality of corresponding measuresaccording to the situation. A security function can generally be afunction which recognizes an access to an article or data and optionallyprevents it or at least makes it more difficult. The at least onesecurity application can accordingly comprise in particular at least oneapplication in the field of data protection. In particular, the at leastone security application can be an application in which an access, inparticular an unauthorized access, to data of an optical data storagedevice is recognized and/or avoided. The optical data storage device cancomprise, in principle, any desired type of optical data storage device,for example one or a plurality of the optical data storage devicesmentioned above.

The security device furthermore comprises at least one detector inaccordance with one or more of the above-described claims relating to adetector. In this respect, it should be pointed out that, in accordancewith the above description, the detector can optionally comprise the atleast one transfer device. In the security device, such a transferdevice is not absolutely necessary, since, by way of example, asdescribed above, the electromagnetic radiation can also be focused by alaser and/or an external imaging device, for example at least oneexternal lens.

Accordingly, the security device or the detector of said security devicecan also be embodied without such a transfer device, or the illuminationsource or parts thereof can be regarded as a transfer device or partsthereof. On the other hand, the transfer device can also be wholly orpartly integrated into an illumination source, such that the securitydevice can also be embodied in a multipartite fashion. By way ofexample, the transfer device, as described above, can be wholly orpartly integrated into an illumination source, which can likewise beregarded as a constituent part of the security device, but which neednot be formed integrally with the other parts of the security device,for example with the optical sensor of the detector of the securitydevice.

The security device is furthermore designed to recognize, by means ofthe detector, impingement of focused electromagnetic rays onto thesecurity device, in particular impingement of one or a plurality oflaser beams, in particular focused laser beams. By way of example, thesecurity device can comprise the at least one evaluation device for thispurpose, as described above. By way of example, this recognition can beeffected by virtue of the fact that the at least one sensor signal ofthe at least one detector is compared with at least one threshold value.While non-focused light can generate for example a sensor signal belowsaid threshold value, for example focused light having the same totalpower which impinges on the sensor region can generate a sensor signalwhich reaches or exceeds the at least one threshold value. By way ofexample, a photocurrent or an absolute value of the photocurrent can becompared with said at least one threshold value. In this way, it ispossible for example to recognize if at least one reading beam, forexample a weak laser beam, is radiated in so as to read out opticallyreadable data. Even if said reading beam is chosen, in terms of itstotal power, to be so weak that overall there impinges on the sensorregion a total power which does not exceed for example the total powerof ambient light, for example assuming an ambient light intensity of 1to 1′10⁵ W/m², such a reading beam can be recognized by means of the atleast one detector according to the invention. Focused electromagneticrays can be understood to mean electromagnetic rays by means of whichonly a partial region of the sensor region of the detector is irradiatedwith a boosted intensity, for example only a light spot of less than 10mm², in particular of less than 1 mm² and particularly preferably ofless than 0.1 mm², although the focusing can be dependent on theapplication. For the definition of a light spot which can be for examplea round, oval or else differently shaped light spot, reference can bemade to the above description.

The security device can furthermore be designed, if impingement of suchfocused electromagnetic rays is recognized, to perform at least onesecurity function or further security functions. By way of example, thesecurity device, in particular the evaluation device, can be designed togenerate at least one warning signal. Said at least one warning signalcan comprise for example at least one signal, in particular selectedfrom the group consisting of an acoustic signal, an electrical signal,an optical signal and a haptic signal. Alternatively or additionally,the warning signal can also comprise at least one variation of at leastone state of at least one data storage device of the security device. Byway of example, it is possible to use at least one data storage devicewith at least one read-out bit, wherein the at least one read-out bitcan be changed over from a state “not read out” to a state “read out” bymeans of the at least one warning signal. Alternatively or additionally,however, the warning signal can also be designed for example to bringabout, after recognition of impingement of focused electromagnetic rays,destruction of the security device and/or of the data storage device,such that only a single use is possible. The warning signal can forexample also be output to a user and/or some other device.

The security device mentioned can be designed or applied in variousways. By way of example, the security device can be embodied as asecurity label, for example as a security label having at least oneoptical data storage device and the at least one detector. By way ofexample, in this way it is possible to prevent multiple uses of accessauthorizations, for example tickets for events, for example by virtue ofa first read-out being identified and/or by virtue of especially a focuslight beam being radiated onto the detector. Alternatively oradditionally, however, the security device can also be integrated forexample into an optical data storage device, such that it is possible toembody an optical data storage device with a security device of thistype. The at least one security device can for example be embodied insuch a way that the at least one sensor region of the at least onedetector is arranged in direct spatial proximity to at least oneoptically readable data storage device, for example at least one datafield of at least one optical ROM, and/or in direct proximity to a barcode and/or a holographic data storage device and/or as a constituentpart thereof. In this way, it can be ensured, for example, that areading beam by means of which data are read out optically from the datastorage device inevitably also impinges on the sensor region of thedetector. By way of example, a spatial distance between the sensorregion and the data storage device region can be not more than 5 mm, inparticular not more than 1 mm and particularly preferably not more than0.1 mm.

A further aspect of the present invention proposes a method foroptically detecting at least one object. The method can be effected inparticular using a detector in accordance with one or more of theembodiments described above, such that, with regard to optionalembodiments of the method, reference can be made to the abovedescription of the detector. In the method, at least one optical sensoris used, wherein the optical sensor has at least one sensor region.Electromagnetic radiation emerging from the object is fed to the sensor,wherein the sensor region is illuminated. The optical sensor generatesat least one sensor signal in a manner dependent on the illumination ofthe sensor region, wherein the sensor signal, given the same total powerof the illumination, is dependent on a geometry of the illumination.

For further possible embodiments of the method, reference can be made tothe above description. In particular, from the sensor signal it ispossible to generate at least one item of geometrical information of theobject, preferably at least one item of location information of theobject, which preferably goes beyond a pure item of information aboutthe total power of the illumination. For possible embodiments of thisgeometrical information, reference can be made to the above description.In particular, this geometrical information can comprise at least oneitem of location information of the object. With regard to possibleembodiments of this location information, reference can likewise be madeto the above description. The geometrical information can be determinedin particular using at least one predefined relationship between thegeometry of the illumination and a location of the object, preferablytaking account of a known power of the illumination and/or takingaccount of a modulation frequency with which the illumination ismodulated. In particular, therefore, the method can be embodied in sucha way that the illumination is modulated, in particular is modulatedperiodically, with a modulation frequency which can be constant or elsevariable.

A further aspect of the present invention proposes a use of a detectorin accordance with one or more of the embodiments described above for apurpose of use, which is selected from the group consisting of: distancemeasurement, in particular in traffic technology; imaging, in particularin microscopy; an entertainment application; a human-machine interfaceapplication; a security application. However, other uses of the detectorare also possible, in principle.

A further aspect of the present invention proposes the use of an organicsolar cell, in particular a dye solar cell and preferable a solid dyesolar cell, as optical sensor, for example in a detector in accordancewith one or more of the embodiments described above. In the use, atleast one sensor signal is generated, wherein the sensor signal, giventhe same total power of an illumination of at least one sensor region ofthe optical sensor, is dependent on a geometry of the illumination onthe organic solar cell, in particular a sensor area of the organic solarcell, wherein at least one item of geometrical information of at leastone object is generated from the sensor signal in the use. For furtherpossible embodiments of this use, reference can be made to the abovedescription.

The above-described detector, the method, the distance measuring device,the imaging device, the human-machine interface, the entertainmentdevice and the security device and also the proposed uses haveconsiderable advantages over the prior art. Thus, in particular theoutlay for object detection can be distinctly reduced by means of theproposed detector and by means of the proposed method. For distancemeasurements for example or other types of object detection, by way ofexample, technically complex propagation time measurements in whichpulse propagation times of laser pulses are detected, for example, canbe at least substantially avoided. In contrast to conventional imagingmethods, it is possible in a simple manner, for example with erroneousassumptions being avoided, to generate items of geometrical information,in particular items of location information, about a detected object,without for example detectors having a high spatial resolution, forexample a high number of pixels, being absolutely necessary for thispurpose. By way of example, it is possible to use a detector having acomparatively large sensor area, for example in accordance with theembodiment described above, on which a light spot is produced byelectromagnetic radiation emerging from the object. The sensor signalcan be, in particular, independent of the position of said light spot onthe sensor region, for example the sensor area, as long as said lightspot is arranged completely within the sensor region. However, thedetector can be designed to deduce from the focusing of theelectromagnetic rays, for example from a diameter or equivalent diameterof the light spot on the sensor area, the at least one item ofgeometrical information, for example the distance between the object andthe detector. Such an application can be realized technically in anextremely simple manner. Furthermore, it is possible to usecost-effective optical sensors, in particular large-area opticalsensors, which can be producible for example using one or a plurality oforganic materials. In particular, it is possible to use solar cells, forexample organic solar cells and in particular dye solar cells, which areproduced as mass-produced products in photovoltaics. In this way, forthe detector proposed, a multiplicity of new fields of application openup which were withheld from previous detectors in many cases on accountof their high costs, such as, for example, applications in disposablearticles or data storage devices.

As explained above, the optical sensor can comprise in particular anorganic semiconductor detector, particularly preferably a dye solarcell. In particular, the optical sensor can comprise at least one firstelectrode, at least one n-semiconducting metal oxide, at least one dye,at least one p-semiconducting organic material and at least one secondelectrode, preferably in the stated order. The stated elements can bepresent as layers in a layer construction, for example. The layerconstruction can be applied for example to a substrate, preferably atransparent substrate, for example a glass substrate.

Preferred embodiments of the abovementioned elements of the preferredoptical sensor are described below by way of example, wherein theseembodiments can be used in any desired combination. However, numerousother configurations are also possible, in principle, wherein referencecan be made for example to US 2007/0176165 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,995,445B2, DE 2501124 A1, DE 3225372 A1 and WO 2009/013282 A1 cited above.

First Electrode and N-Semiconductive Metal Oxide

The n-semiconductive metal oxide used in the dye solar cell may be asingle metal oxide or a mixture of different oxides. It is also possibleto use mixed oxides. The n-semiconductive metal oxide may especially beporous and/or be used in the form of a nanoparticulate oxide,nanoparticles in this context being understood to mean particles whichhave an average particle size of less than 0.1 micrometer. Ananoparticulate oxide is typically applied to a conductive substrate(i.e. a carrier with a conductive layer as the first electrode) by asintering process as a thin porous film with large surface area.

The substrate may be rigid or else flexible. Suitable substrates (alsoreferred to hereinafter as carriers) are, as well as metal foils, inparticular plastic sheets or films and especially glass sheets or glassfilms. Particularly suitable electrode materials, especially for thefirst electrode according to the above-described, preferred structure,are conductive materials, for example transparent conductive oxides(TCOs), for example fluorine- and/or indium-doped tin oxide (FTO or ITO)and/or aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), carbon nanotubes or metal films.Alternatively or additionally, it would, however, also be possible touse thin metal films which still have a sufficient transparency. Thesubstrate can be covered or coated with these conductive materials.Since generally only a single substrate is required in the structureproposed, the formation of flexible cells is also possible. This enablesa multitude of end uses which would be achievable only with difficulty,if at all, with rigid substrates, for example use in bank cards,garments, etc.

The first electrode, especially the TCO layer, may additionally becovered or coated with a solid metal oxide buffer layer (for example ofthickness 10 to 200 nm), in order to prevent direct contact of thep-type semiconductor with the TCO layer (see Peng et al., Coord. Chem.Rev. 248, 1479 (2004)). The inventive use of solid p-semiconductingelectrolytes, in the case of which contact of the electrolyte with thefirst electrode is greatly reduced compared to liquid or gel-formelectrolytes, however, makes this buffer layer unnecessary in manycases, such that it is possible in many cases to dispense with thislayer, which also has a current-limiting effect and can also worsen thecontact of the n-semiconducting metal oxide with the first electrode.This enhances the efficiency of the components. On the other hand, sucha buffer layer can in turn be utilized in a controlled manner in orderto match the current component of the dye solar cell to the currentcomponent of the organic solar cell. In addition, in the case of cellsin which the buffer layer has been dispensed with, especially in solidcells, problems frequently occur with unwanted recombinations of chargecarriers. In this respect, buffer layers are advantageous in many casesspecifically in solid cells.

As is well known, thin layers or films of metal oxides are generallyinexpensive solid semiconductor materials (n-type semiconductors), butthe absorption thereof, due to large bandgaps, is typically not withinthe visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, but rather usuallyin the ultraviolet spectral region. For use in solar cells, the metaloxides therefore generally, as is the case in the dye solar cells, haveto be combined with a dye as a photosensitizer, which absorbs in thewavelength range of sunlight, i.e. at 300 to 2000 nm, and, in theelectronically excited state, injects electrons into the conduction bandof the semiconductor. With the aid of a solid p-type semiconductor usedadditionally in the cell as an electrolyte, which is in turn reduced atthe counterelectrode, electrons can be recycled to the sensitizer, suchthat it is regenerated.

Of particular interest for use in organic solar cells are thesemiconductors zinc oxide, tin dioxide, titanium dioxide or mixtures ofthese metal oxides. The metal oxides can be used in the form ofnanocrystalline porous layers. These layers have a large surface areawhich is coated with the dye as a sensitizer, such that a highabsorption of sunlight is achieved. Metal oxide layers which arestructured, for example nanorods, give advantages such as higherelectron mobilities or improved pore filling by the dye.

The metal oxide semiconductors can be used alone or in the form ofmixtures. It is also possible to coat a metal oxide with one or moreother metal oxides. In addition, the metal oxides may also be applied asa coating to another semiconductor, for example GaP, ZnP or ZnS.

Particularly preferred semiconductors are zinc oxide and titaniumdioxide in the anatase polymorph, which is preferably used innanocrystalline form.

In addition, the sensitizers can advantageously be combined with alln-type semiconductors which typically find use in these solar cells.Preferred examples include metal oxides used in ceramics, such astitanium dioxide, zinc oxide, tin(IV) oxide, tungsten(VI) oxide,tantalum(V) oxide, niobium(V) oxide, cesium oxide, strontium titanate,zinc stannate, complex oxides of the perovskite type, for example bariumtitanate, and binary and ternary iron oxides, which may also be presentin nanocrystalline or amorphous form.

Due to the strong absorption that customary organic dyes andphthalocyanines and porphyrins have, even thin layers or films of then-semiconducting metal oxide are sufficient to absorb the requiredamount of dye. Thin metal oxide films in turn have the advantage thatthe probability of unwanted recombination processes falls and that theinternal resistance of the dye subcell is reduced. For then-semiconducting metal oxide, it is possible with preference to uselayer thicknesses of 100 nm up to 20 micrometers, more preferably in therange between 500 nm and approx. 3 micrometers.

Dye

In the context of the present invention, as usual in particular forDSCs, the terms “dye”, “sensitizer dye” and “sensitizer” are usedessentially synonymously without any restriction of possibleconfigurations. Numerous dyes which are usable in the context of thepresent invention are known from the prior art, and so, for possiblematerial examples, reference may also be made to the above descriptionof the prior art regarding dye solar cells. All dyes listed and claimedmay in principle also be present as pigments. Dye-sensitized solar cellsbased on titanium dioxide as a semiconductor material are described, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,721, Nature 353, p. 737-740 (1991) andU.S. Pat. No. 5,350,644, and also Nature 395, p. 583-585 (1998) andEP-A-1 176 646. The dyes described in these documents can in principlealso be used advantageously in the context of the present invention.These dye solar cells preferably comprise monomolecular films oftransition metal complexes, especially ruthenium complexes, which arebonded to the titanium dioxide layer via acid groups as sensitizers.

Not least for reasons of cost, sensitizers which have been proposedrepeatedly include metal-free organic dyes, which are likewise alsousable in the context of the present invention. High efficiencies ofmore than 4%, especially in solid dye solar cells, can be achieved, forexample, with indoline dyes (see, for example, Schmidt-Mende et al.,Adv. Mater. 2005, 17, 813). U.S. Pat. No. 6,359,211 describes the use,also implementable in the context of the present invention, of cyanine,oxazine, thiazine and acridine dyes which have carboxyl groups bondedvia an alkylene radical for fixing to the titanium dioxidesemiconductor.

Organic dyes now achieve efficiencies of almost 12.1% in liquid cells(see, for example, P. Wang et al, ACS. Nano 2010). Pyridinium-containingdyes have also been reported, can be used in the context of the presentinvention and exhibit promising efficiencies.

Particularly preferred sensitizer dyes in the dye solar cell proposedare the perylene derivatives, terrylene derivatives and quaterrylenederivatives described in DE 10 2005 053 995 A1 or WO 2007/054470 A1. Theuse of these dyes, which is also possible in the context of the presentinvention, leads to photovoltaic elements with high efficiencies andsimultaneously high stabilities.

The rylenes exhibit strong absorption in the wavelength range ofsunlight and can, depending on the length of the conjugated system,cover a range from about 400 nm (perylene derivatives I from DE 10 2005053 995 A1) up to about 900 nm (quaterrylene derivatives I from DE 102005 053 995 A1). Rylene derivatives I based on terrylene absorb,according to the composition thereof, in the solid state adsorbed ontotitanium dioxide, within a range from about 400 to 800 nm. In order toachieve very substantial utilization of the incident sunlight from thevisible into the near infrared region, it is advantageous to usemixtures of different rylene derivatives I. Occasionally, it may also beadvisable also to use different rylene homologs.

The rylene derivatives I can be fixed easily and in a permanent mannerto the n-semiconducting metal oxide film. The bonding is effected viathe anhydride function (x1) or the carboxyl groups —COOH or —COO— formedin situ, or via the acid groups A present in the imide or condensateradicals ((x2) or (x3)). The rylene derivatives I described in DE 102005 053 995 A1 have good suitability for use in dye-sensitized solarcells in the context of the present invention.

It is particularly preferred when the dyes, at one end of the molecule,have an anchor group which enables the fixing thereof to the n-typesemiconductor film. At the other end of the molecule, the dyespreferably comprise electron donors Y which facilitate the regenerationof the dye after the electron release to the n-type semiconductor, andalso prevent recombination with electrons already released to thesemiconductor.

For further details regarding the possible selection of a suitable dye,it is possible, for example, again to refer to DE 10 2005 053 995 A1. Byway of example, it is possible especially to use ruthenium complexes,porphyrins, other organic sensitizers, and preferably rylenes.

The dyes can be fixed onto or into the n-semiconducting metal oxidefilms in a simple manner. For example, the n-semiconducting metal oxidefilms can be contacted in the freshly sintered (still warm) state over asufficient period (for example about 0.5 to 24 h) with a solution orsuspension of the dye in a suitable organic solvent. This can beaccomplished, for example, by immersing the metal oxide-coated substrateinto the solution of the dye.

If combinations of different dyes are to be used, they may, for example,be applied successively from one or more solutions or suspensions whichcomprise one or more of the dyes. It is also possible to use two dyeswhich are separated by a layer of, for example, CuSCN (on this subjectsee, for example, Tennakone, K. J., Phys. Chem. B. 2003, 107, 13758).The most convenient method can be determined comparatively easily in theindividual case.

In the selection of the dye and of the size of the oxide particles ofthe n-semiconducting metal oxide, the organic solar cell should beconfigured such that a maximum amount of light is absorbed. The oxidelayers should be structured such that the solid p-type semiconductor canefficiently fill the pores. For instance, smaller particles have greatersurface areas and are therefore capable of adsorbing a greater amount ofdyes. On the other hand, larger particles generally have larger poreswhich enable better penetration through the p-conductor.

P-Semiconducting Organic Material

As described above, the optical sensor can comprise in particular atleast one p-semiconducting organic material, preferably at least onesolid p-semiconducting material, which is also designated hereinafter asp-type semiconductor or p-type conductor. Hereinafter a description isgiven of a series of preferred examples of such organic p-typesemiconductors which can be used individually or else in any desiredcombination, for example in a combination of a plurality of layers witha respective p-type semiconductor, and/or in a combination of aplurality of p-type semiconductors in one layer.

In order to prevent recombination of the electrons in then-semiconducting metal oxide with the solid p-conductor, it is possibleto use, between the n-semiconducting metal oxide and the p-typesemiconductor, at least one passivating layer which has a passivatingmaterial. This layer should be very thin and should as far as possiblecover only the as yet uncovered sites of the n-semiconducting metaloxide. The passivation material may, under some circumstances, also beapplied to the metal oxide before the dye. Preferred passivationmaterials are especially one or more of the following substances: Al₂O₃;silanes, for example CH₃SiCl₃; Al³⁺; 4-tert-butylpyridine (TBP); MgO;GBA (4-guanidinobutyric acid) and similar derivatives; alkyl acids;hexadecylmalonic acid (HDMA).

As described above, in the context of the organic solar cell, preferablyone or more solid organic p-type semiconductors are used—alone or elsein combination with one or more further p-type semiconductors which areorganic or inorganic in nature. In the context of the present invention,a p-type semiconductor is generally understood to mean a material,especially an organic material, which is capable of conducting holes,that is to say positive charge carriers. More particularly, it may be anorganic material with an extensive π-electron system which can beoxidized stably at least once, for example to form what is called afree-radical cation. For example, the p-type semiconductor may compriseat least one organic matrix material which has the properties mentioned.Furthermore, the p-type semiconductor can optionally comprise one or aplurality of dopants which intensify the p-semiconducting properties. Asignificant parameter influencing the selection of the p-typesemiconductor is the hole mobility, since this partly determines thehole diffusion length (cf. Kumara, G., Langmuir, 2002, 18, 10493-10495).A comparison of charge carrier mobilities in different spiro compoundscan be found, for example, in T. Saragi, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2006, 16,966-974.

Preferably, in the context of the present invention, organicsemiconductors are used (i.e. low molecular weight, oligomeric orpolymeric semiconductors or mixtures of such semiconductors). Particularpreference is given to p-type semiconductors which can be processed froma liquid phase. Examples here are p-type semiconductors based onpolymers such as polythiophene and polyarylamines, or on amorphous,reversibly oxidizable, nonpolymeric organic compounds, such as thespirobifluorenes mentioned at the outset (cf., for example, US2006/0049397 and the spiro compounds disclosed therein as p-typesemiconductors, which are also usable in the context of the presentinvention). Preference is given to using low molecular weight organicsemiconductors. In addition, reference may also be made to the remarksregarding the p-semiconducting materials and dopants from the abovedescription of the prior art.

The p-type semiconductor is preferably producible or produced byapplying at least one p-conducting organic material to at least onecarrier element, wherein the application is effected for example bydeposition from a liquid phase comprising the at least one p-conductingorganic material. The deposition can in this case once again beeffected, in principle, by any desired deposition process, for exampleby spin-coating, knife-coating, printing or combinations of the statedand/or other deposition methods.

The organic p-type semiconductor may especially comprise at least onespiro compound and/or especially be selected from: a spiro compound,especially spiro-MeOTAD; a compound with the structural formula:

in whichA¹, A², A³ are each independently optionally substituted aryl groups orheteroaryl groups,R¹, R², R³ are each independently selected from the group consisting ofthe substituents —R, —OR, —NR₂, -A⁴-OR and -A4-NR₂,where R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl andheteroaryl,andwhere A⁴ is an aryl group or heteroaryl group, andwhere n at each instance in formula I is independently a value of 0, 1,2 or 3,with the proviso that the sum of the individual n values is at least 2and at least two of the R¹, R² and R³ radicals are —OR and/or —NR₂.

Preferably, A² and A³ are the same; accordingly, the compound of theformula (I) preferably has the following structure (Ia)

More particularly, as explained above, the p-type semiconductor may thushave at least one low molecular weight organic p-type semiconductor. Alow molecular weight material is generally understood to mean a materialwhich is present in monomeric, nonpolymerized or nonoligomerized form.The term “low molecular weight” as used in the present contextpreferably means that the p-type semiconductor has molecular weights inthe range from 100 to 25 000 g/mol. Preferably, the low molecular weightsubstances have molecular weights of 500 to 2000 g/mol.

In general, in the context of the present invention, p-semiconductingproperties are understood to mean the property of materials, especiallyof organic molecules, to form holes and to transport these holes and/orto pass them on to adjacent molecules. More particularly, stableoxidation of these molecules should be possible. In addition, the lowmolecular weight organic p-type semiconductors mentioned may especiallyhave an extensive π-electron system. More particularly, the at least onelow molecular weight p-type semiconductor may be processable from asolution. The low molecular weight p-type semiconductor may especiallycomprise at least one triphenylamine. It is particularly preferred whenthe low molecular weight organic p-type semiconductor comprises at leastone spiro compound. A spiro compound is understood to mean polycyclicorganic compounds whose rings are joined only at one atom, which is alsoreferred to as the spiro atom. More particularly, the spiro atom may bespa-hybridized, such that the constituents of the spiro compoundconnected to one another via the spiro atom are, for example, arrangedin different planes with respect to one another.

More preferably, the spiro compound has a structure of the followingformula:

where the aryl¹, aryl², aryl³, aryl⁴, aryl⁵, aryl⁶, aryl⁷ and aryl⁸radicals are each independently selected from substituted aryl radicalsand heteroaryl radicals, especially from substituted phenyl radicals,where the aryl radicals and heteroaryl radicals, preferably the phenylradicals, are each independently substituted, preferably in each case byone or more substituents selected from the group consisting of —O-alkyl,—OH, —F, —Cl, —Br and —I, where alkyl is preferably methyl, ethyl,propyl or isopropyl. More preferably, the phenyl radicals are eachindependently substituted, in each case by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of —O-Me, —OH, —F, —Cl, —Br and —I.

Further preferably, the spiro compound is a compound of the followingformula:

where R^(r), R^(s), R^(t), R^(u), R^(v), R^(w), R^(x) and R^(y) are eachindependently selected from the group consisting of —O-alkyl, —OH, —F,—Cl, —Br and —I, where alkyl is preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl orisopropyl. More preferably, R^(r), R^(s), R^(t), R^(u), R^(v), R^(w),R^(x) and R^(y) are each independently selected from the groupconsisting of —O-Me, —OH, —F, —Cl, —Br and —I.

More particularly, the p-type semiconductor may comprise spiro-MeOTAD orconsist of spiro-MeOTAD, i.e. a compound of the formula below,commercially available, for example, from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt,Germany:

Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to use otherp-semiconducting compounds, especially low molecular weight and/oroligomeric and/or polymeric p-semiconducting compounds.

In an alternative embodiment, the low molecular weight organic p-typesemiconductor comprises one or more compounds of the abovementionedgeneral formula I, for which reference may be made, for example, to PCTapplication number PCT/EP2010/051826, which will be published after thepriority date of the present application. The p-type semiconductor maycomprise the at least one compound of the abovementioned general formulaI additionally or alternatively to the spiro compound described above.

The term “alkyl” or “alkyl group” or “alkyl radical” as used in thecontext of the present invention is understood to mean substituted orunsubstituted C₁-C₂₀-alkyl radicals in general. Preference is given toC₁- to C₁₀-alkyl radicals, particular preference to C₁- to C₈-alkylradicals. The alkyl radicals may be either straight-chain or branched.In addition, the alkyl radicals may be substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₂₀-alkoxy,halogen, preferably F, and C₆-C₃₀-aryl which may in turn be substitutedor unsubstituted. Examples of suitable alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl,propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl and octyl, and also isopropyl,isobutyl, isopentyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, neopentyl,3,3-dimethylbutyl, 2-ethylhexyl, and also derivatives of the alkylgroups mentioned substituted by C₆-C₃₀-aryl, C₁-C₂₀-alkoxy and/orhalogen, especially F, for example CF₃.

The term “aryl” or “aryl group” or “aryl radical” as used in the contextof the present invention is understood to mean optionally substitutedC₆-C₃₀-aryl radicals which are derived from monocyclic, bicyclic,tricyclic or else multicyclic aromatic rings, where the aromatic ringsdo not comprise any ring heteroatoms. The aryl radical preferablycomprises 5- and/or 6-membered aromatic rings. When the aryls are notmonocyclic systems, in the case of the term “aryl” for the second ring,the saturated form (perhydro form) or the partly unsaturated form (forexample the dihydro form or tetrahydro form), provided the particularforms are known and stable, is also possible. The term “aryl” in thecontext of the present invention thus comprises, for example, alsobicyclic or tricyclic radicals in which either both or all threeradicals are aromatic, and also bicyclic or tricyclic radicals in whichonly one ring is aromatic, and also tricyclic radicals in which tworings are aromatic. Examples of aryl are: phenyl, naphthyl, indanyl,1,2-dihydronaphthenyl, 1,4-dihydronaphthenyl, fluorenyl, indenyl,anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl. Particularpreference is given to C₆-C₁₀-aryl radicals, for example phenyl ornaphthyl, very particular preference to C₆-aryl radicals, for examplephenyl. In addition, the term “aryl” also comprises ring systemscomprising at least two monocyclic, bicyclic or multicyclic aromaticrings joined to one another via single or double bonds. One example isthat of biphenyl groups.

The term “heteroaryl” or “heteroaryl group” or “heteroaryl radical” asused in the context of the present invention is understood to meanoptionally substituted 5- or 6-membered aromatic rings and multicyclicrings, for example bicyclic and tricyclic compounds having at least oneheteroatom in at least one ring. The heteroaryls in the context of theinvention preferably comprise 5 to 30 ring atoms. They may bemonocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic, and some can be derived from theaforementioned aryl by replacing at least one carbon atom in the arylbase skeleton with a heteroatom. Preferred heteroatoms are N, O and S.The hetaryl radicals more preferably have 5 to 13 ring atoms. The baseskeleton of the heteroaryl radicals is especially preferably selectedfrom systems such as pyridine and five-membered heteroaromatics such asthiophene, pyrrole, imidazole or furan. These base skeletons mayoptionally be fused to one or two six-membered aromatic radicals. Inaddition, the term “heteroaryl” also comprises ring systems comprisingat least two monocyclic, bicyclic or multicyclic aromatic rings joinedto one another via single or double bonds, where at least one ringcomprises a heteroatom. When the heteroaryls are not monocyclic systems,in the case of the term “heteroaryl” for at least one ring, thesaturated form (perhydro form) or the partly unsaturated form (forexample the dihydro form or tetrahydro form), provided the particularforms are known and stable, is also possible. The term “heteroaryl” inthe context of the present invention thus comprises, for example, alsobicyclic or tricyclic radicals in which either both or all threeradicals are aromatic, and also bicyclic or tricyclic radicals in whichonly one ring is aromatic, and also tricyclic radicals in which tworings are aromatic, where at least one of the rings, i.e. at least onearomatic or one nonaromatic ring has a heteroatom. Suitable fusedheteroaromatics are, for example, carbazolyl, benzimidazolyl,benzofuryl, dibenzofuryl or dibenzothiophenyl. The base skeleton may besubstituted at one, more than one or all substitutable positions,suitable substituents being the same as have already been specifiedunder the definition of C₆-C₃₀-aryl. However, the hetaryl radicals arepreferably unsubstituted. Suitable hetaryl radicals are, for example,pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl, pyridin-4-yl, thiophen-2-yl, thiophen-3-yl,pyrrol-2-yl, pyrrol-3-yl, furan-2-yl, furan-3-yl and imidazol-2-yl andthe corresponding benzofused radicals, especially carbazolyl,benzimidazolyl, benzofuryl, dibenzofuryl or dibenzothiophenyl.

In the context of the invention the term “optionally substituted” refersto radicals in which at least one hydrogen radical of an alkyl group,aryl group or heteroaryl group has been replaced by a substituent. Withregard to the type of this substituent, preference is given to alkylradicals, for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl,heptyl and octyl, and also isopropyl, isobutyl, isopentyl, sec-butyl,tert-butyl, neopentyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl and 2-ethylhexyl, arylradicals, for example C₆-C₁₀-aryl radicals, especially phenyl ornaphthyl, most preferably C₆-aryl radicals, for example phenyl, andhetaryl radicals, for example pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl, pyridin-4-yl,thiophen-2-yl, thiophen-3-yl, pyrrol-2-yl, pyrrol-3-yl, furan-2-yl,furan-3-yl and imidazol-2-yl, and also the corresponding benzofusedradicals, especially carbazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuryl,dibenzofuryl or dibenzothiophenyl. Further examples include thefollowing substituents: alkenyl, alkynyl, halogen, hydroxyl.

The degree of substitution here may vary from monosubstitution up to themaximum number of possible substituents.

Preferred compounds of the formula I for use in accordance with theinvention are notable in that at least two of the R¹, R² and R³ radicalsare para-OR and/or —NR₂ substituents. The at least two radicals here maybe only —OR radicals, only —NR₂ radicals, or at least one —OR and atleast one —NR₂ radical.

Particularly preferred compounds of the formula I for use in accordancewith the invention are notable in that at least four of the R¹, R² andR³ radicals are para-OR and/or —NR₂ substituents. The at least fourradicals here may be only —OR radicals, only —NR₂ radicals or a mixtureof —OR and —NR₂ radicals.

Very particularly preferred compounds of the formula I for use inaccordance with the invention are notable in that all of the R¹, R² andR³ radicals are para-OR and/or —NR₂ substituents. They may be only —ORradicals, only —NR₂ radicals or a mixture of —OR and —NR₂ radicals.

In all cases, the two R in the —NR₂ radicals may be different from oneanother, but they are preferably the same.

Preferably, A¹, A² and A³ are each independently selected from the groupconsisting of

in whichm is an integer from 1 to 18,R⁴ is alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, where R⁴ is preferably an aryl radical,more preferably a phenyl radical,R⁵, R⁶ are each independently H, alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl,where the aromatic and heteroaromatic rings of the structures shown mayoptionally have further substitution. The degree of substitution of thearomatic and heteroaromatic rings here may vary from monosubstitution upto the maximum number of possible substituents.

Preferred substituents in the case of further substitution of thearomatic and heteroaromatic rings include the substituents alreadymentioned above for the one, two or three optionally substitutedaromatic or heteroaromatic groups.

Preferably, the aromatic and heteroaromatic rings of the structuresshown do not have further substitution.

More preferably, A¹, A² and A³ are each independently

more preferably

More preferably, the at least one compound of the formula (I) has one ofthe following structures:

In an alternative embodiment, the organic p-type semiconductor comprisesa compound of the type ID322 having the following structure:

The compounds for use in accordance with the invention can be preparedby customary methods of organic synthesis known to those skilled in theart. References to relevant (patent) literature can additionally befound in the synthesis examples adduced below.

Second Electrode

The second electrode may be a bottom electrode facing the substrate orelse a top electrode facing away from the substrate. The secondelectrode used can be especially metal electrodes which may have one ormore metals in pure form or as a mixture/alloy, such as especiallyaluminum or silver. The use of inorganic/organic mixed electrodes ormultilayer electrodes is also possible, for example the use of LiF/Alelectrodes.

In addition, it is also possible to use electrode designs in which thequantum efficiency of the components is increased by virtue of thephotons being forced, by means of appropriate reflections, to passthrough the absorbing layers at least twice. Such layer structures arealso referred to as “concentrators” and are likewise described, forexample, in WO 02/101838 (especially pages 23-24).

The organic solar cell can furthermore comprise at least oneencapsulation, wherein the encapsulation is designed to shield theorganic solar cell, in particular the electrodes and/or the p-typesemiconductor, from a surrounding atmosphere.

Overall, in the context of the present invention, the followingembodiments are regarded as particularly preferred:

Embodiment 1

A detector for optically detecting at least one object, comprising atleast one optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor has at least onesensor region, in particular at least one sensor region comprising atleast one sensor area wherein the optical sensor is designed to generateat least one sensor signal in a manner dependent on an illumination ofthe sensor region, wherein the sensor signal, given the same total powerof the illumination is dependent on a geometry of the illumination, inparticular on a beam cross section of the illumination on the sensorarea, wherein the detector furthermore has at least one evaluationdevice, wherein the evaluation device is designed to generate at leastone item of geometrical information from the sensor signal, inparticular at least one item of geometrical information about theillumination and/or the object.

Embodiment 2

The detector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the detectorfurthermore has at least one modulation device for modulating theillumination.

Embodiment 3

The detector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the detectoris designed to detect at least two sensor signals in the case ofdifferent modulations, in particular at least two sensor signals atrespectively different modulation frequencies, wherein the evaluationdevice is designed to generate the geometrical information from the atleast two sensor signals.

Embodiment 4

The detector according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein theoptical sensor is furthermore designed in such a way that the sensorsignal, given the same total power of the illumination, is dependent ona modulation frequency of a modulation of the illumination.

Embodiment 5

The detector according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein thesensor region is exactly one continuous sensor region, wherein thesensor signal is a uniform sensor signal for the entire sensor region.

Embodiment 6

The detector according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein thesensor signal is selected from the group consisting of a photocurrentand a photovoltage.

Embodiment 7

The detector according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein theoptical sensor comprises at least one semiconductor detector, inparticular an organic semiconductor detector comprising at least oneorganic material, preferably an organic solar cell and particularlypreferably a dye solar cell, in particular a solid dye solar cell.

Embodiment 8

The detector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the opticalsensor comprises at least one first electrode, at least onen-semiconducting metal oxide, at least one dye, at least onep-semiconducting organic material, preferably a solid p-semiconductingorganic material, and at least one second electrode.

Embodiment 9

The detector according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein thegeometric information comprises at least one item of locationinformation of the object.

Embodiment 10

The detector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein theevaluation device is designed to determine the geometrical informationfrom at least one predefined relationship between the geometry of theillumination and a relative positioning of the object with respect tothe detector, preferably taking account of a known power of theillumination and optionally taking account of a modulation frequencywith which the illumination is modulated.

Embodiment 11

The detector according to any of the preceding embodiments, furthermorecomprising at least one transfer device, wherein the transfer device isdesigned to feed electromagnetic radiation emerging from the object tothe optical sensor and thereby to illuminate the sensor region.

Embodiment 12

The detector according to any of the preceding embodiments, furthermorecomprises at least one illumination source.

Embodiment 13

The detector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein theillumination source is selected from: an illumination source, which isat least partly connected to the object and/or is at least partlyidentical to the object; an illumination source which is designed to atleast partly illuminate the object with a primary radiation.

Embodiment 14

A distance measuring device, in particular for use in a motor vehicle,comprising at least one detector according to any of the precedingembodiments, wherein the detector is designed to determine at least oneitem of geometrical information of at least one object, wherein thegeometrical information comprises at least one item of locationinformation of the object, in particular a distance between a motorvehicle and at least one object and preferably a distance between themotor vehicle and at least one object selected from the group consistingof a further motor vehicle, an obstacle, a cyclist and a pedestrian.

Embodiment 15

An imaging device for imaging at least one sample, wherein the imagingdevice comprises at least one detector according to any of the precedingembodiments relating to a detector, wherein the imaging device isdesigned to image a plurality of partial regions of the sample onto thesensor region and to thereby generate sensor signals assigned to thepartial regions, wherein the imaging device is designed to generateitems of geometrical information of the respective partial regions fromthe sensor signals, wherein the items of geometrical informationcomprise items of location information.

Embodiment 16

A human-machine interface for exchanging at least one item ofinformation between a user and a machine, in particular for inputtingcontrol commands, wherein the human-machine interface comprises at leastone detector according to any of the preceding claims relating to adetector wherein the human-machine interface is designed to generate atleast one item of geometrical information of the user (218) by means ofthe detector wherein the human-machine interface is designed to assignto the geometrical information at least one item of information, inparticular at least one control command.

Embodiment 17

An entertainment device for carrying out at least one entertainmentfunction, in particular a game, wherein the entertainment devicecomprises at least one human-machine interface according to thepreceding embodiment, wherein the entertainment device is designed toenable at least one item of information to be input by a player by meansof the human-machine interface, wherein the entertainment device isdesigned to vary the entertainment function in accordance with theinformation.

Embodiment 18

A security device for carrying out at least one security application inparticular for identifying and/or avoiding an access to data of anoptical data storage device, wherein the security device comprises atleast one detector according to any of the preceding embodimentsrelating to a detector, wherein the security device is designed toidentify, by means of the detector, impingement of focusedelectromagnetic radiation, in particular laser beams, on the securitydevice and preferably to generate at least one warning signal.

Embodiment 19

A method for optically detecting at least one object, in particularusing a detector according to any of the preceding embodiments relatingto a detector, wherein at least one optical sensor is used, wherein theoptical sensor has at least one sensor region, wherein electromagneticradiation emerging from the object is fed to the optical sensor andthereby the sensor region is illuminated, wherein the optical sensorgenerates at least one sensor signal in a manner dependent on theillumination of the sensor region, wherein the sensor signal, given thesame total power of the illumination, is dependent on a geometry of theillumination.

Embodiment 20

The method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein at least oneitem of geometrical information of the object is generated from thesensor signal, in particular at least one item of location informationof the object.

Embodiment 21

The use of a detector according to any of the preceding embodimentsrelating to a detector for a purpose of use, selected from the groupconsisting of: distance measurement, in particular in traffictechnology; imaging, in particular in microscopy; an entertainmentapplication; a security application; a human-machine interfaceapplication.

Embodiment 22

The use of an organic solar cell, in particular a dye solar cell,preferably a solid dye solar cell, as optical sensor, wherein at leastone sensor signal is generated in the use, wherein the sensor signal,given the same total power of an illumination is dependent on a geometryof the illumination on the organic solar cell, wherein at least one itemof geometrical information of at least one object is generated from thesensor signal in the use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further optional details and features of the invention are evident fromthe description of preferred exemplary embodiments which follows inconjunction with the dependent claims. In this context, the particularfeatures may be implemented alone or with several in combination. Theinvention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments. The exemplaryembodiments are shown schematically in the figures. Identical referencenumerals in the individual figures refer to identical elements orelements with identical function, or elements which correspond to oneanother with regard to their functions.

Specifically, in the figures:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a detector according to theinvention for optically detecting at least one object;

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of an optical sensor for use in adetector according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of possible energy levels of alayer structure of an optical sensor in accordance with FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a signal dependence of anoptical sensor according to the present invention on a beam geometry;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show measurements for demonstrating a geometryindependence of the sensor signals of conventional semiconductorsensors;

FIG. 7 shows a typical frequency dependence of the signal of opticalsensors for use in a detector according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a joint illustration of the dependence of a sensor signalof the detector according to the present invention on a modulationfrequency f and a beam geometry;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic exemplary embodiment of a distance measuringdevice according to the invention;

FIG. 10 shows a result of a distance measurement using a distancemeasuring device according to the invention;

FIG. 11 shows a use of a distance measuring device according to theinvention in motor vehicles;

FIGS. 12A and 12B show a comparison of a conventional imaging device(FIG. 12A) having a confocal beam path with an imaging device accordingto the invention (FIG. 12B);

FIGS. 13 and 14 show further possible embodiments of imaging devicesaccording to the invention;

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of a human-machine interface andof an entertainment device according to the present invention; and

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary embodiment of a security device according tothe invention.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Detector

FIG. 1 illustrates, in a highly schematic illustration, an exemplaryembodiment of a detector 110 according to the invention for opticallydetecting at least one object 112. The detector 110 comprises an opticalsensor 114, having a sensor region 116, for example having a sensor area118. The sensor is designed to generate at least one sensor signal whichcan comprise for example a photocurrent I. By way of example, theoptical sensor 114 can comprise at least one measuring device 120 bymeans of which at least one physical property of the optical sensor 114can be detected, for example by at least one photocurrent and/or atleast one photovoltage being measured.

Furthermore, the detector 110 in accordance with the exemplaryembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises an evaluation device 122,which, by way of example, can be connected to the optical sensor 114and/or else can be wholly or partly integrated into the optical sensor114, or vice-versa. Said evaluation device 122 can be designed, forexample, to pick up the at least one sensor signal of the optical sensor114 directly or indirectly. The evaluation device 122 can comprise forexample at least one data processing device 124 and/or at least one datastorage device 126. Furthermore, the evaluation device 122 can have forexample a unidirectional or bidirectional interface 128, for example inorder to be able to exchange data and/or control commandsunidirectionally or bidirectionally with other devices.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, thedetector 110 optionally comprises at least one transfer device 130, forexample having at least one lens 132 and/or other imaging or non-imagingelements. The optional transfer device 130 is designed to feedelectromagnetic radiation 134 emerging from the object 112 to theoptical sensor 114 and to illuminate the sensor region 116 in theprocess. By way of example, a light spot 136 having a diameter orequivalent diameter can arise on the sensor area 118 in this way. Saidlight spot 136 can have an area A, for example, wherein the total powerof the electromagnetic radiation 134 is designated by p in FIG. 1, andthe flux p/A is designated by φ. It is pointed out that the optionaltransfer device 130 in FIG. 1 is only indicated schematically. Saidtransfer device can also be embodied in various other ways.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1, thedetector 110 optionally comprises at least one modulation device 138 formodulating the electromagnetic rays 134. In particular, said modulationdevice 138 can comprise at least one beam interrupter 140, for example aso-called chopper wheel.

Furthermore, the detector 110 can optionally comprise at least oneillumination source 142. Said illumination source 142 can be designed toirradiate the object 112 or a partial region of the object 112 with aprimary radiation 144. By way of example, said primary radiation 144 canbe reflected and/or scattered at the object 112. During this reflectionand/or scattering, which can be supported for example by at least oneoptional reflective surface 146 of the object 112, the electromagneticradiation 134 is optionally generated, which is then fed to the opticalsensor 114, for example by means of the transfer device 130. As analternative or in addition to reflection and/or scattering, however, theprimary radiation 144 can also excite the object 112 or a part thereofto emit the electromagnetic radiation 134, for example in the form of anexcitation of fluorescence and/or excitation of phosphorescence. In thiscase, the object 112 can comprise for example at least one fluorescentmaterial and/or at least one phosphorescent material.

Optical Sensor

As explained above, it is particularly preferred if the optical sensor114 comprises at least one semiconductor detector 148, in particular anorganic semiconductor detector 150, preferably an organic solar cell 152and particularly preferably a dye solar cell 154. An exemplaryembodiment of such optical sensors 114 is shown in FIG. 2 in a schematicsectional illustration through one possible layer structure. The dyesolar cell 154 illustrated there can comprise for example a substrate156, for example a glass substrate. However, other substrates 156 canalso be used, as described above, for example a plastic substrate orelse multilayer or laminate substrates. In the exemplary embodimentillustrated, at least one first electrode 158, which can also bedesignated as a working electrode and which can preferably be embodiedin a transparent fashion, as described above, is applied on saidsubstrate 156. At least one blocking layer 160 (also designatedhereinafter as buffer layer) of an optional metal oxide can in turnoptionally be applied on said first electrode 158, said layer preferablybeing nonporous and/or nonparticulate. An n-semiconducting metal oxide162 is applied in turn on said layer, said metal oxide being sensitizedwith a dye 164. As explained above, this sensitization can be effectedby applying a separate layer of the dye 164 and/or by complete orpartial impregnation, wetting or mixing of the, preferably porous and/orparticulate, n-semiconducting metal oxide 162 with the dye 164.

An organic p-type semiconductor 166 is applied to the dye 164. Saidorganic p-type semiconductor 166 is preferably solid in the finishedstate of the dye solar cell 154, that is to say embodied as a solidorganic p-type semiconductor 166. A plurality of layers of this solidorganic p-type semiconductor 166 can also be provided. A secondelectrode 168, which is also designated as a counterelectrode, isapplied on the p-type semiconductor 166.

The layers illustrated in FIG. 2 together form a layer structure 170,which is preferably shielded from a surrounding atmosphere by anencapsulation 172, for example in order to shield the layer structure170 from a surrounding atmosphere, for example in order to completely orpartly protect the layer structure 170 from oxygen and/or moisture. Oneor both of the electrodes 158, 168 or connection contacts of saidelectrodes 158, 168 can be led out from the encapsulation 172, in orderto be able to provide one or a plurality of contact-connection areasoutside the encapsulation 172.

FIG. 3 shows, in a highly schematic manner, one possible energy leveldiagram of the dye solar cell 154, for example according to FIG. 2. Theillustration shows the Fermi levels 174 of the first electrode 158 andof the second electrode 168, and the HOMOs (Highest Occupied MolecularOrbitals) 176 and the LUMOs (Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbitals) 178of the layers 160, 162 (which can comprise the same material, forexample TiO₂) of the dye 164 (indicated by way of example, with a HOMOlevel of 5.7 eV) and of the p-type semiconductor 166 (also designated asHTL, Hole Transport Layer). FTO (fluorine-doped tin oxide) and silverare specified by way of example as materials for the first electrode 158and the second electrode 168. It is pointed out that other electrodematerials can also be used and that, for example, the order of the firstelectrode and the second electrode can also be reversed and that, forexample, it is also possible to use a nontransparent substrate 156 incombination with a transparent second electrode 168 and optionally atransparent encapsulation 172, or an inverse layer structure. Theorganic semiconductor detector 150 can furthermore optionally comprisefurther elements that are not illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Production of a Dye Solar Cell

As an example of production of an organic solar cell 152, production ofa dye solar cell 154 with a solid p-type semiconductor 166 is describedbelow by way of example.

As the base material and substrate 156, glass plates which had beencoated with fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) as the first electrode(working electrode) 158 and were of dimensions 25 mm×25 mm×3 mm(Hartford Glass) were used, which were treated successively in anultrasound bath with glass cleaner (RBS 35), demineralized water andacetone, for 5 min in each case, then boiled in isopropanol for 10 minand dried in a nitrogen stream.

To produce an optional solid TiO₂ buffer layer 160, a spray pyrolysisprocess was used. Thereon, as an n-semiconducting metal oxide 162, aTiO₂ paste (Dyesol) which comprises TiO₂ particles with a diameter of 25nm in a terpineol/ethylcellulose dispersion was spun on with aspin-coater at 4500 rpm and dried at 90° C. for 30 min. After heating to450° C. for 45 min and a sintering step at 450° C. for 30 minutes, aTiO₂ layer thickness of approximately 1.8 μm was obtained.

After removal from the drying cabinet, the sample was cooled to 80° C.and immersed into a 5 mM solution of an additive ID662 (obtainableaccording to example H below, for example) for 12 h and subsequentlyinto a 0.5 mM solution of a dye 164 in dichloromethane for 1 h. The dye164 used was the dye ID504 (obtainable according to example G below, forexample), but a large number of other dyes can be used and the choice ofdye generally has only little influence on the effect described above.In particular, the dye can be adapted to the respective purpose of useand the wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation 134 used.

After removal from the solution, the sample was subsequently rinsed withthe same solvent and dried in a nitrogen stream. The samples obtained inthis way were subsequently dried at 40° C. under reduced pressure.

Next, a p-type semiconductor 166 solution was spun on. For this purpose,a solution of 0.163 M spiro-MeOTAD (Merck) and 20 mM LiN(SO₂CF₃)₂(Aldrich) in chlorobenzene was made up. 125 μl of this solution wereapplied to the sample and allowed to act for 60 s. Thereafter, thesupernatant solution was spun off at 2000 rpm for 30 s.

Finally, a metal back electrode was applied as a second electrode 168 bythermal metal vaporization under reduced pressure. The metal used wasAg, which was vaporized at a rate of 3 Å/s at a pressure of approx.2*10⁻⁶ mbar, so as to give a layer thickness of about 200 nm.

Dependence of the Sensor Signal on the Geometry of the Illumination andthe Modulation Frequency

With such dye solar cells 154 as optical sensor 114, firstly the methodof operation of the detector 110 illustrated in FIG. 1 will bedescribed. FIG. 4 shows an example of a measurement of a photocurrent I(normalized to the maximum value) as a function of a position x(indicated in millimeters) of a lens 132, wherein the lens 132 focuseselectromagnetic radiation 134 onto a sensor area 118 of the dye solarcell 154. The sensor area 118 can be for example a surface of thesubstrate 156 of the layer structure in FIG. 2, said surface facing awayfrom the first electrode 158. Alternatively, however, the sensor area118 can also be arranged in a layer plane of the organic layerstructure, for example in the region of the dye 164. The exact positionof said sensor area 118 within the organic semiconductor detector 150 isgreatly dependent on the individual physical processes and is generallynot of importance for the exact functioning of the detector 110.Alternatively, the entire organic layer structure or a part thereof canbe regarded as a sensor region 116.

During the measurement in FIG. 4, the lens 132 is displaced relative tothe optical sensor 114 in FIG. 1 in a direction perpendicular to thesensor area 118. As a result, the diameter or equivalent diameter of thelight spot 136 on the sensor area 118 changes. By way of example, a lenshaving a focal length of 50 mm can be used, given a beam diameter of 25mm, for example, which leads to a size of the light spot 136 of lessthan 2 mm, for example. A location of the lens 132 at which optimumfocusing occurs is arbitrarily indicated as location x=0 in FIG. 4. Asan alternative or in addition to a displacement of the lens 132 oralteration of the optional transfer device 130, other measures couldalso be implemented in order to vary a focusing of the electromagneticradiation 134 on the sensor area 118 or a diameter or equivalentdiameter or some other geometry of the electromagnetic radiation 134 inthe sensor region 116 and in particular on the sensor area 118.

It can clearly be discerned in FIG. 1 that the signal of the opticalsensor 114, in this case the photocurrent, is greatly dependent on thegeometry of the illumination. Outside a maximum at x=0, the photocurrentfalls to less than 10% of its maximum value.

In comparison therewith, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate correspondingmeasurements on silicon diodes (FIG. 5) and germanium diodes (FIG. 6).In this case, diodes of the Hamamatsu S2386-8k type were used as silicondiodes, and diodes of the Hamamatsu J16-5SP-R03M type were used asgermanium diodes. It can clearly be discerned that the signal of suchsemiconductor diodes, apart from marginal effects in FIG. 6, which maybe attributable to a boundary of the sensor area, and apart from noiseeffects, which are below 10%, does not have the above-described geometrydependence of the sensor signals on the illumination of the sensorregion 116. In other words, in the case of the optical sensors 114 of aconventional type that are used in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sensor signal,given the same total power, is substantially independent of a geometryof the illumination of the sensor region 116 or the sensor area 118,wherein, by way of example, fluctuations of less than 10%, preferably ofless than 5%, can still be accepted and should not yet be regarded asthe effect according to the invention. In contrast thereto, themeasurement by means of the detector 110 according to the invention andthe optical sensor 114 in accordance with FIG. 2, for example, shows apronounced geometry-dependent effect in the sensor signal.

This effect is generally dependent on a modulation frequency of theillumination of the optical sensor 114. The measurements in FIGS. 4-6were carried out using a modulation device 138 by means of which theelectromagnetic radiation 134 was modulated before impinging on thesensor region 116 with a frequency of typically 30 Hz to 100 Hz. Themodulation device 138 used was an electronic modulation device in theform of a pulsed current source having a duty cycle of 1:1. This isillustrated once again schematically in FIG. 7 for measurementsanalogous to the measurement in accordance with FIG. 4. Here the sensorsignal I/I₀, that is to say the sensor signal normalized to its maximumvalue I₀, is plotted as a function of the spatial coordinate x of thelens 132 used for the focusing, but this can be exchanged, in principle,for any other parameter that characterizes the geometry of theillumination on the sensor region 116 or the sensor area 118. Theillustration schematically shows a curve of the sensor signal at amodulation frequency f=0 Hz and a modulation frequency f that is greaterthan a limiting frequency f_(Base) dependent on the type of opticalsensor 114.

From the spatial coordinate x it is possible, by using imaging equationsor else by simple observation, for example, to deduce the geometry ofthe illumination. On the other hand it is possible, for example givenfixed positioning of the lens 132 or fixed embodiment of the transferdevice 130, to deduce for example at least one spatial coordinate of theobject 112 from the sensor signal and/or from the geometry of theillumination. For this purpose, calibration curves can be recordedand/or calculated, which can be stored for example in the evaluationdevice 122 and/or the data storage device 126. FIG. 8 shows one possibleexample of such calibration curves in a three-dimensional illustration.Here the photocurrent I is plotted as a function of the spatialcoordinate x of the lens 132 and as a function of the modulationfrequency f, specified in hertz. During this measurement, a photocurrentof 7 nA occurred as maximum photocurrent. In this case, the location ofthe maximum is chosen arbitrarily, and so in this case, withoutrestricting the usability of the results, the location x=0 does notspecify the location of the maximum. The curves clearly show that thesensor signal I is a distinct function of the spatial coordinate x, andhence the geometry of the illumination of the sensor region 116, and thefrequency f.

In a manner similar to that illustrated in FIG. 8, a multiplicity ofother calibration curves can be recorded. By way of example, it ispossible to record calibration curves in which, instead of the spatialcoordinate x, a coordinate is directly specified which characterizes atleast one item of geometrical information of the object 112. Given aknown modulation frequency f and measured intensity I, there is thenonly an ambiguity with regard to the fact of on which side of themaximum the measurement result lies. This ambiguity can be resolved forexample by prior knowledge of on which side of the maximum themeasurement must lie, or by a plurality of measurements. The evaluationdevice 122 can be designed to resolve this ambiguity, for example byprogramming.

Distance Measuring Device

FIG. 9 shows a highly schematic example of a distance measuring device180, which in principle, can be embodied analogously to the detector 110in accordance with FIG. 1 and/or can comprise such a detector 110. Inthis case, the at least one item of geometrical information generated bymeans of the detector is embodied as location information or comprisesat least one item of location information, and/or the distance measuringdevice 180 is designed to generate the at least one item of locationinformation from the at least one item of geometrical information. Thedistance measuring device 180 therefore serves to generate at least oneitem of location information about at least one object 112, which isillustrated symbolically as a pedestrian in FIG. 9. By way of example,this location information can comprise at least one distance d₁ or d₂between the object 112 and the detector 110 or a part of the detector110, for example a distance between the object 112 and a lens 132 of thedetector 110.

The structure of the detector 110 in FIG. 9 can correspond, inprinciple, to the structure in accordance with FIG. 1. An optionalmodulation device 138, which can be arranged for example between object112 and lens 132 and/or between lens 132 and optical sensor 114 and/orwhich can be integrated into the at least one illumination source 142,is not illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 illustrates by way of example two objects 112 at differentdistances d₁, d₂. These cause for example on the sensor region 116, andin particular the sensor area 118, different light spots 182, 184, withdifferent geometries. Sensor signals which are picked up by the opticalsensor 114 in accordance with the geometry of said light spots 182, 184are correspondingly different. The evaluation device 122 can bedesigned, for example using calibration curves in accordance with FIG. 5and/or other types of calibration curves, to generate from said sensorsignals an item of geometrical information, in particular at least oneitem of location information, of the object 112, for example an item ofinformation about the distance d₁ or d₂ between the objects 112 and thedetector 110.

The detector 110 or distance measuring device 180 can be embodied forexample in integral fashion or else in a multipartite fashion and cancomprise for example at least one housing 186 into which, by way ofexample, the optical sensor 114 and/or the evaluation device 122 andoptionally the at least one illumination source 142 can be integrated.Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also possible to providemultipartite embodiments, for example by one or a plurality ofillumination sources 142 being arranged separately, for example in aseparate housing. Overall, the distance measuring device 180 inaccordance with FIG. 9 can have for example the form of a simple,camera-like arrangement and can for example also be embodied as ahandheld device, that is to say as a device which can be carried by auser or can be taken along solely on the basis of muscle power. Variousother configurations are possible.

The distance measuring device 180 in accordance with FIG. 9 canoptionally comprise exactly one optical sensor 114. Alternatively, thedistance measuring device 180 can also be embodied as a camera, forexample by a plurality of optical sensors 114 and/or one or a pluralityof optical sensors 114 having a plurality of sensor regions 116 beingused, for example in a two-dimensional matrix arrangement and/or athree-dimensional matrix arrangement. One advantage of such camerasresides, in comparison with conventional recording techniques, in ashorter recording time, for example with a pixel clock of 10 MHz,corresponding to a time of 0.1 ms for 1000 pixels. Recording times fortwo-dimensional and three-dimensional recordings can generally be madeequally short. In contrast thereto, conventional cameras, in order togenerate three-dimensional images, generally have to record n images,which necessitates recording times in the Hz-kHz range. Furthermore,conventional cameras of the type mentioned are generally ofcomparatively low luminosity.

Evidence of the functioning of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 9 isshown in FIG. 10. Here a distance x_(M) (corresponding, for example, tothe spatial coordinates d₁ and d₂ in FIG. 9), specified in cm or 10 mm,measured by means of the distance measuring device 180 in accordancewith FIG. 9 is plotted as a function of the actual distance x_(S),likewise specified in cm or 10 mm. The measurements were carried outusing a transfer device 130 in the form of an objective having anachromatic lens, an illumination source 142 in the form of afrequency-doubled neodymium laser and a dye solar cell 154 in accordancewith the above description having a sensor area 118 of approximately 4mm².

The measurements clearly show that, for example here in the case ofdistances of less than 1 m, the distance measurements by means of thedistance measuring device 180 according to the invention correspondexcellently to the actual distances. The distance measurement is readilyalso adaptable to other distances, for example by adapting the transferdevice 130 and/or the illumination source 142 and/or the optical sensor114. By way of example, microscopic distances can be identified bycorresponding focusing of the primary radiation 144 and/or bycorresponding embodiment of the optional transfer device 130. Greaterdistances than the distances shown in FIG. 10 can likewise be identifiedfor example by using laser beams and/or corresponding optics in thetransfer device 130. However, the measurement in FIG. 10 clearly showsthat the measurement principle proposed can be realized.

This measurement principle of a distance measuring device 180 can beused very diversely, for example for determining at least one spatialcoordinate of at least one object 112, of a plurality of objects, or forspatially detecting an entire environment, for example in a scanningmethod in which, within a visual range of the detector 110, one or aplurality of objects, a plurality of points of at least one object orcontours of one or a plurality of objects are detected successively orsimultaneously. In this respect, the distance measuring device 180 inthe embodiment illustrated or another embodiment according to theinvention can be used and embodied very diversely and can be used forexample generally for one-dimensional, for two-dimensional or forthree-dimensional detection of surroundings.

FIG. 11 shows how a distance measuring device 180 of the type proposedcan be used for example in motor vehicle technology, for example fordetecting the surroundings. By way of example, a detector 110 or a partthereof can be arranged on a front side 188 of a first motor vehicle190. An illumination source 142, for example in the form of an infraredtransmitter, which directly emits the electromagnetic radiation 134 inthe direction of the detector 110, can be arranged on a rear side 192 ofa second motor vehicle 194, which in this case can function as theobject 112. Said illumination source 142 can therefore be regarded as aconstituent part of the detector 110 or else as a separate component.Alternatively or additionally, the at least one illumination source 142or a part thereof could, however, also be arranged in the first motorvehicle 190 and emit primary radiation in the direction of the secondmotor vehicle 194, where it is for example reflected and/or scatteredand/or excites luminescence, such that electromagnetic radiation 134 inturn propagates back to the first motor vehicle 190 and the detector110. Various embodiments are possible.

Generally, the illumination can be embodied in such a way that ageometry of an illumination of a sensor region 116 of the detector 110changes with a distance d between the motor vehicles 190, 194. This canbe effected for example once again by means of a correspondingembodiment of the illumination source 142 and/or an optional transferdevice 130 of the detector 110. Consequently, a sensor signal of thedetector 110 also changes, from which the distance d and/or some othergeometrical information can in turn be deduced. This deduction can beeffected for example once again by using one or a plurality ofcalibration functions, in particular once again by means of anevaluation device 122. The latter can be embodied separately, but canalso be integrated for example wholly or partly into a device alreadypresent in the motor vehicle, for example an engine controller.

By way of example, a plurality of motor vehicles 190, 194 can each beequipped with such distance measuring devices 180. The at least one itemof geometrical information, in particular the at least one item oflocation information, about the motor vehicle ahead and/or the followingmotor vehicle can for example be brought to the attention of a driverand/or used to generate warning signals and/or to interveneautomatically in a driving behavior of the motor vehicle.

The structure shown in FIG. 11 can be modified in diverse ways in thecontext of the present invention. Thus, by way of example, the at leastone illumination source 142 can also be integrated directly into thedetector 110, such that, by way of example, as described above, thedetector 110 can emit primary radiation 144 in the direction of, forexample, another motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle ahead.Said radiation can then be for example reflected and/or scattered and/orused for excitation there and can be directed as electromagneticradiation 134 back to the detector 110 again. Thus, by way of example,motor vehicles could also be equipped with one or a plurality ofreflectors which can foster this reflection process. Furthermore,generally the at least one detector can be embodied for carrying outmonitoring of the surroundings of a motor vehicle, for example by aviewing direction of the detector 110 and/or a radiation direction ofthe primary radiation 144 being made variable. Various other embodimentsare conceivable.

In contrast for example to conventional triangulation methods,propagation time methods, image evaluation methods or similar methodsfor identifying distances, the detector 110 according to the inventionand the distance measuring device 180 according to the invention affordthe advantage of a simpler structure, in particular without the need fordigital data analysis, a faster reaction and a more cost-effectiveembodiment.

Imaging Device

FIGS. 12A-14 show that the detector 110 according to the invention canadvantageously also be used in an imaging device 196 for imaging atleast one sample 198. In this case, the sample 198 serves as the object112. The measurement principle of the imaging device 196 can, inprinciple, be analogous, similar or even identical to the principle ofthe distance measuring device 180 described above, although (which isalso possible, in principle, in the context of the distance measuringdevice 180) a plurality of points and/or regions of the at least oneobject 112 or of the sample 198 can be detected.

FIG. 12A shows an imaging device 196 corresponding to the prior art inthe form of a conventional confocal microscope having a confocal beampath. The confocal microscope has an illumination source 142, forexample a laser, the focus of which is designated symbolically by thereference numeral 202 in FIG. 12A. Primary radiation 144 emerging fromsaid illumination source 142 is directed by a beam splitter 204, forexample a partly transmissive mirror and/or a beam splitter cube, ontothe sample 198 and is focused for example by means of a lens 132 and/oran objective. Electromagnetic radiation 134 emerging from the sample 198is directed by means of the beam splitter 204 onto a diaphragm 206,which is confocal with respect to the focus 202, and a sensor 208 lyingbehind said diaphragm. What is achieved by the confocal structure isthat only light from the region of the image of the focus 202 can passthrough the diaphragm 206 by means of the lens 132 in the sample 198 andcan be detected by the sensor 208, for example a conventionalsemiconductor sensor. Light from other regions is at least substantiallymasked out by the diaphragm 206.

By contrast, FIG. 12B illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an imagingdevice 196 according to the invention. The structure can for examplesubstantially correspond to the structure in accordance with FIG. 12A,but the diaphragm 206 can be obviated in that the sensor 208 can bereplaced by an optical sensor 114 having the inventive properties ofsensitivity relative to a geometry of the illumination of the sensorregion 116.

From at least one known relationship between the sensor signal and atleast one item of geometrical information (optionally by means of atleast one intermediate step of determining a geometry of theillumination from the sensor signal and at least one optionalintermediate step of determining the geometrical information from thegeometry of the illumination), it is then possible to deduce from whatdepth of the sample 198 the electromagnetic radiation 134 originates.This can for example be effected once again by means of the evaluationdevice 122.

In this way, by way of example, an item of location information aboutthe location of the origin of the electromagnetic radiation 134 can begenerated, such that the sample 198 can be scanned, for example, and anitem of information about a surface of the sample is in each caseobtained, for example. Alternatively or additionally, it is alsopossible to obtain items of information from deeper regions of thesample 198. The optional transfer device 130 can comprise for example atleast one scanning device, for example one or a plurality of movablemirrors, such that, for example, a line scan or else an area scan can becarried out on the sample 198. Such scanning devices are known forexample from the field of confocal microscopy.

Furthermore, the optional transfer device 130 in the structure shown inFIG. 12B or else in other embodiments of devices and detectors 110according to the invention can also comprise one or a plurality ofwavelength-selective elements, for example wavelength-selective filtersand/or wavelength-selective deflection elements such as, for example,one or a plurality of dichroic mirrors.

One advantage of the imaging device 196 illustrated in FIG. 12B incomparison with the conventional imaging device in accordance with FIG.12A consists generally in a higher z-resolution, that is to say a higherresolution in the direction perpendicular to the sample 198, in a higherlight intensity, since the need to use a diaphragm 206 is obviated, ahigher insensitivity toward a transverse offset of an optical axis andthe diaphragm 206, and a high intensity at an optimum z-resolution.Furthermore, the structure of the imaging device 196 according to theinvention can be greatly simplified in comparison with conventionalimaging devices 196, since generally, for example, by means of thedetector 110, it is possible to generate not only an item of informationabout a total power of the electromagnetic radiation 134, but at leastone item of geometrical information, for example at least one item oflocation information.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show modifications of the structure of the imagingdevice shown in FIG. 12B, once again in a highly schematic illustration.Thus, FIG. 13 shows a structure in which the detector 110 comprises astack 210 of optical sensors 114. By way of example, the optical sensors114 can be embodied such that they are fully or partly transparent. Bymeans of these different sensors 114, which for example can in each casebe aligned with the focus from a specific layer 212 or depth of thesample 198 or can be designed to receive signals corresponding to theelectromagnetic radiation 134 emerging from said layer 212, a depthresolution in the z-direction perpendicular to the sample 198 can beautomatically effected, without the optional transfer device 130 havingto be designed for a movement in the z-direction. However, a scanningdevice parallel to the sample 198, which is designated by x, y in FIGS.13 and 14, can nevertheless still be provided, for example for carryingout a line or area scan.

FIG. 14 shows a development of the exemplary embodiment in accordancewith FIG. 13. This exemplary embodiment shows that in the detector 110generally and in particular preferably in an imaging device 196,according to the invention, one or a plurality of sensors 114 can beprovided, which can in each case have a plurality of sensor regions 116,for example in a matrix arrangement. This is merely indicatedschematically in FIG. 14. For each of said sensor regions 116, by way ofexample, an evaluation method in accordance with the above descriptioncan be carried out, for example in order to generate at least one itemof geometrical information, in particular at least one item of locationinformation, about the at least one object 112 or a partial region ofthe object 112, for example that partial region from which theelectromagnetic radiation 134 that impinges on the respective sensorregion 116 originates. In order to ensure the spatial resolution, theoptional transfer device 130 can have for example a plurality of lenses132. By way of example, the transfer device 130, as illustrated in FIG.14, can have at least one lens array in order, for example, in atargeted manner, to assign lateral regions of a layer of the sample 212in each case to a sensor region 116 of an optical sensor 114. In thisway, a lateral spatial resolution in the x, y direction parallel to thelayers 212 can simultaneously be effected by evaluation of the sensorsignals of the individual sensor regions 116 of the sensor array, anddepth information can be effected by evaluation of the optical sensors114 arranged one behind another. In this case, a three-dimensionalregion of the sample 198 can be imaged simultaneously.

Human-Machine Interface and Entertainment Device

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of a human-machine interface 214according to the invention, which can simultaneously also be embodied asan exemplary embodiment of an entertainment device 216 or can be aconstituent part of such an entertainment device 216.

By way of example, at least one detector 110 according to the presentinvention can once again be provided, for example in accordance with oneor more of the embodiments described above, with one or a plurality ofoptical sensors 114. Further elements of the detector 110 can beprovided, which are not illustrated in FIG. 15, such as, for example,elements of an optional transfer device 130. Furthermore, one or aplurality of illumination sources 142 can be provided. Generally, withregard to possible embodiments of the detector 110, reference can bemade for example to the description above.

The human-machine interface 214 can be designed to make it possible toexchange at least one item of information between a user 218 of amachine 220, which is merely indicated in FIG. 15, and the machine 220,for example to exchange control commands. The machine 220 can comprise,in principle, any desired device having at least one function which canbe controlled and/or influenced in some way. At least one optionalevaluation device 122 of the at least one detector 110 or a part thereofcan, as indicated in FIG. 15, be wholly or partly integrated into saidmachine 220, but can, in principle, also be formed separately from themachine 220.

The human-machine interface can be designed for example to generate, bymeans of the detector 112, at least one item of geometrical information,in particular at least one item of location information, of the user andto assign to the geometrical information at least one item ofinformation, in particular at least one control command. For thispurpose, by way of example, by means of the detector 110, a movementand/or a change in posture of the user 218 can be identified, forexample, as indicated in FIG. 15, a hand movement and/or a specific handposture. If, by way of example, such a hand movement and/or hand postureof a specific type is identified, for example by evaluation of one or aplurality of items of geometrical information, in particular items oflocation information, of the user 218, then it is possible to recognize,for example by comparison with a corresponding command list, that theuser 218 would like to effect a specific input, for example would liketo give the machine 220 a control command. As an alternative or inaddition to direct geometrical information about the actual user 218, itis also possible, for example, to generate at least one item ofgeometrical information about a garment of the user 218 and/or anarticle moved by the user 218.

The machine 220 can furthermore comprise one or a plurality of furtherhuman-machine interfaces, which need not necessarily be embodiedaccording to the invention, for example, as indicated in FIG. 15, atleast one display 222 and/or at least one keyboard 224. The machine 220can be, in principle, any desired type of machine or combination ofmachines.

In the context of an entertainment device 216, said machine 220 can bedesigned for example to carry out at least one entertainment function,for example at least one game, in particular with at least one graphicaldisplay on the display 222 and optionally a corresponding audio output.The user 218 can input at least one item of information for example viathe human-machine interface, wherein the entertainment device isdesigned to alter the entertainment function in accordance with theinformation. By way of example, specific movements of virtual articles,for example of virtual persons in a game and/or movements of virtualvehicles in a game, can be controlled by means of correspondingmovements of the user 218, which are in turn recognized by the detector110. Other types of control of at least one entertainment function bythe user 218 by means of the at least one detector 110 are alsopossible.

Security Device

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary embodiment of a security device 226 accordingto the invention. Said security device 226 can be integrated for exampleinto a memory device 228 having at least one optical data storage device230. The security device 226 once again comprises at least one detector110, for example of the type described above. The detector 110 onceagain comprises at least one optical sensor 114 and optionally at leastone transfer device 130, for example at least one lens 132, for examplein the form of a printed lens and/or a printed lens array. As explainedabove, however, the detector 110 of the security device 226 can also beembodied without a transfer device 130. Furthermore, the detector 110once again comprises at least one evaluation device 122 for evaluatingsignals of the optical sensor 114.

The security device 226 is designed to carry out at least one securityapplication. In particular, it can be designed to identify and/or avoidaccess to data of the optical data storage device 230. In general, oneor a plurality of reading beams 232 are used for reading out the data ofthe optical data storage device 230. By way of example, this can involvefocused reading beams in order to read individual information modules ofthe optical data storage device 230, the lateral resolution of which istypically in the range of a few hundred nanometers to a few tens or afew hundreds of micrometers. The security device 226 can be arranged soclose to the optical data storage device 230 and/or be completely orpartly integrated into the optical data storage device 230 such that thereading beam 232 or the reading beams 232 also impinge on the securitydevice 226.

In contrast to impingement of diffuse light on the optical sensor 114and the sensor region 116 thereof, which would lead to a comparativelylow sensor signal, the impingement of focused light, for example of afocused reading beam 232, in particular of a focused laser beam,generally leads to a strongly boosted sensor signal, which can beidentified by the evaluation device 122. This effect generally occurs—onaccount of the above-described geometry dependence of the sensorsignal—even when the reading beam 232 has a very weak total power whichdoes not exceed a total power of ambient light impinging on the sensorregion 116.

Accordingly, the evaluation device 122 and/or other components of thememory device 228 or some other device which comprises the securitydevice 226 can implement corresponding measures if a reading beam 232 isidentified. In particular, the evaluation device 122 can output, via atleast one interface 234, at least one warning signal which indicates,for example, that an attempt at reading by means of focused readingbeams 232 has been effected. In accordance with this identification andthe warning signal, a memory bit can be altered, for example, whichindicates that the optical data storage device 230 has already been readonce. Alternatively or additionally, other measures can be implemented,for example outputting of a corresponding warning to a user and/oradministrator and/or destruction of the optical data storage device 230,such that an optical data storage device 230 that can only be read oncecan be generated.

The security device 226 described can be integrated into various typesof devices. Thus, it is possible, for example, to equip optical datastorage devices 230 in the form of optical ROMs according to theinvention. Optical data storage devices 230 in the form, for example, ofholographic data storage devices and/or in the form of bar codes canalso be embodied accordingly. In this way, it is possible for example toensure, for example by the destruction of the optical data storagedevice 230 after the latter has been read once, that the optical datastorage device 230 and/or the memory device 228, for example an entrycard and/or a ticket, can only be used once. Various other embodimentsof the security device are conceivable.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLES

Syntheses of various compounds which can be used in dye solar cells 154in the context of the present invention, in particular as p-typesemiconductors 166, are listed by way of example hereinafter. Possiblesyntheses of compounds of the formula (I) are described, for example:

(A) General Synthesis Schemes for Preparation of Compounds of theFormula I

(a) Synthesis Route I:

(a 1) Synthesis Step I-R1:

The synthesis in synthesis step I-R1 was based on the references citedbelow:

-   a) Liu, Yunqi; Ma, Hong; Jen, Alex K-Y.; CHCOFS; Chem. Commun.; 24;    1998; 2747-2748,-   b) Goodson, Felix E.; Hauck, Sheila; Hartwig, John F.; J. Am. Chem.    Soc.; 121; 33; 1999; 7527-7539,-   c) Shen, Jiun Yi; Lee, Chung Ying; Huang, Tai-Hsiang; Lin, Jiann T.;    Tao, Yu-Tai; Chien, Chin-Hsiung; Tsai, Chiitang; J. Mater. Chem.;    15; 25; 2005; 2455-2463,-   d) Huang, Ping-Hsin; Shen, Jiun-Yi; Pu, Shin-Chien; Wen, Yuh-Sheng;    Lin, Jiann T.; Chou, Pi-Tai; Yeh, Ming-Chang P.; J. Mater. Chem.;    16; 9; 2006; 850-857,-   e) Hirata, Narukuni; Kroeze, Jessica E.; Park, Taiho; Jones, David;    Haque, Saif A.; Holmes, Andrew B.; Durrant, James R.; Chem. Commun.;    5; 2006; 535-537.    (a2) Synthesis Step I-R2:

The synthesis in synthesis step I-R2 was based on the references citedbelow:

-   a) Huang, Qinglan; Evmenenko, Guennadi; Dutta, Pulak; Marks, Tobin    J.; J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 125; 48; 2003; 14704-14705,-   b) Bacher, Erwin; Bayerl, Michael; Rudati, Paula; Reckefuss, Nina;    Mueller, C. David; Meerholz, Klaus; Nuyken, Oskar; Macromolecules;    EN; 38; 5; 2005; 1640-1647,-   c) Li, Zhong Hui; Wong, Man Shing; Tao, Ye; D'Iorio, Marie; J. Org.    Chem.; EN; 69; 3; 2004; 921-927.    (a3) Synthesis Step I-R3:

The synthesis in synthesis step I-R3 was based on the reference citedbelow:

-   J. Grazulevicius; J. of Photochem. and Photobio., A: Chemistry 2004    162(2-3), 249-252.

The compounds of the formula I can be prepared via the sequence ofsynthesis steps shown above in synthesis route I. In steps (I-R1) to(I-R3), the reactants can be coupled, for example, by Ullmann reactionwith copper as a catalyst or under palladium catalysis.

(b) Synthesis Route II:

(b1) Synthesis Step II-R1:

The synthesis in synthesis step II-R1 was based on the references citedunder I-R2.

(b2) Synthesis Step II-R2:

The synthesis in synthesis step II-R2 was based on the references citedbelow:

-   a) Bacher, Erwin; Bayerl, Michael; Rudati, Paula; Reckefuss, Nina;    Müller, C. David; Meerholz, Klaus; Nuyken, Oskar; Macromolecules;    38; 5; 2005; 1640-1647,-   b) Goodson, Felix E.; Hauck, Sheila; Hartwig, John F.; J. Am. Chem.    Soc.; 121; 33; 1999; 7527-7539; Hauck, Sheila I.; Lakshmi, K. V.;    Hartwig, John F.; Org. Lett.; 1; 13; 1999; 2057-2060.    (b3) Synthesis Step II-R3:

The compounds of the formula I can be prepared via the sequence ofsynthesis steps shown above in synthesis route II. In steps (II-R1) to(II-R3), the reactants can be coupled, as also in synthesis route I, forexample, by Ullmann reaction with copper as a catalyst or underpalladium catalysis.

(c) Preparation of the Starting Amines:

When the diarylamines in synthesis steps I-R2 and II-R1 of synthesisroutes I and II are not commercially available, they can be prepared,for example, by Ullmann reaction with copper as a catalyst or underpalladium catalysis, according to the following reaction:

The synthesis was based on the review articles listed below:

Palladium-Catalyzed C—N Coupling Reactions:

-   a) Yang, Buchwald; J. Organomet. Chem. 1999, 576 (1-2), 125-146,-   b) Wolfe, Marcoux, Buchwald; Acc. Chem. Res. 1998, 31, 805-818,

c) Hartwig; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1998, 37, 2046-2067.

Copper-Catalyzed C—N Coupling Reactions:

-   a) Goodbrand, Hu; Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 670-674,-   b) Lindley; Tetrahedron 1984, 40, 1433-1456.

(B) Synthesis Example 1 Synthesis of the Compound ID367 (Synthesis RouteI)

(B1): Synthesis Step According to General Synthesis Scheme I-R1:

A mixture of 4,4′-dibromobiphenyl (93.6 g; 300 mmol), 4-methoxyaniline(133 g; 1.08 mol), Pd(dppf)Cl₂(Pd(1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene)Cl₂; 21.93 g; 30 mmol) andt-BuONa (sodium tert-butoxide; 109.06 g; 1.136 mol) in toluene (1500 ml)was stirred under a nitrogen atmosphere at 110° C. for 24 hours. Aftercooling, the mixture was diluted with diethyl ether and filtered througha Celite® pad (from Carl Roth). The filter bed was washed with 1500 mleach of ethyl acetate, methanol and methylene chloride. The product wasobtained as a light brown solid (36 g; yield: 30%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ 7.81 (s, 2H), 7.34-7.32 (m, 4H), 6.99-6.97 (m,4H), 6.90-6.88 (m, 4H), 6.81-6.79 (m, 4H), 3.64 (s, 6H).

(B2): Synthesis Step According to General Synthesis Scheme I-R2:

Nitrogen was passed for a period of 10 minutes through a solution ofdppf (1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene; 0.19 g; 0.34 mmol) andPd₂(dba)₃ (tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0); 0.15 g; 0.17 mmol)in toluene (220 ml). Subsequently, t-BuONa (2.8 g; 29 mmol) was addedand the reaction mixture was stirred for a further 15 minutes.4,4′-Dibromobiphenyl (25 g; 80 mmol) and 4,4′-dimethoxydiphenylamine(5.52 g; 20 mmol) were then added successively. The reaction mixture washeated at a temperature of 100° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere for 7hours. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture wasquenched with ice-water, and the precipitated solid was filtered off anddissolved in ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with water,dried over sodium sulfate and purified by column chromatography (eluent:5% ethyl acetate/hexane). A pale yellow solid was obtained (7.58 g,yield: 82%).

¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d₆): 7.60-7.49 (m, 6H), 7.07-7.04 (m, 4H),6.94-6.91 (m, 4H), 6.83-6.80 (d, 2H), 3.75 (s, 6H).

(B3): Synthesis Step According to General Synthesis Scheme I-R3:

N⁴,N⁴′-Bis(4-methoxyphenyl)biphenyl-4,4′-diamine (product from synthesisstep I-R1; 0.4 g; 1.0 mmol) and product from synthesis step I-R2 (1.0 g;2.2 mmol) were added under a nitrogen atmosphere to a solution oft-BuONa (0.32 g; 3.3 mmol) in o-xylene (25 ml). Subsequently, palladiumacetate (0.03 g; 0.14 mmol) and a solution of 10% by weight of P(t-Bu)₃(tris-t-butylphosphine) in hexane (0.3 ml; 0.1 mmol) were added to thereaction mixture which was stirred at 125° C. for 7 hours. Thereafter,the reaction mixture was diluted with 150 ml of toluene and filteredthrough Celite®, and the organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄. Thesolvent was removed and the crude product was reprecipitated three timesfrom a mixture of tetrahydrofuran (THF)/methanol. The solid was purifiedby column chromatography (eluent: 20% ethyl acetate/hexane), followed bya precipitation with THF/methanol and an activated carbon purification.After removing the solvent, the product was obtained as a pale yellowsolid (1.0 g, yield: 86%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): 7.52-7.40 (m, 8H), 6.88-7.10 (m, 32H),6.79-6.81 (d, 4H), 3.75 (s, 6H), 3.73 (s, 12H).

(C) Synthesis Example 2 Synthesis of the Compound ID447 (Synthesis RouteII)

(C1) Synthesis Step According to General Synthesis Scheme II-R2:

p-Anisidine (5.7 g, 46.1 mmol), t-BuONa (5.5 g, 57.7 mol) and P(t-Bu)₃(0.62 ml, 0.31 mmol) were added to a solution of the product fromsynthesis step I-R2 (17.7 g, 38.4 mmol) in toluene (150 ml). Afternitrogen had been passed through the reaction mixture for 20 minutes,Pd₂(dba)₃ (0.35 g, 0.38 mmol) was added. The resulting reaction mixturewas left to stir under a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 16hours. Subsequently, it was diluted with ethyl acetate and filteredthrough Celite®. The filtrate was washed twice with 150 ml each of waterand saturated sodium chloride solution. After the organic phase had beendried over Na₂SO₄ and the solvent had been removed, a black solid wasobtained. This solid was purified by column chromatography (eluent:0-25% ethyl acetate/hexane). This afforded an orange solid (14 g, yield:75%).

¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO): 7.91 (s, 1H), 7.43-7.40 (d, 4H), 7.08-6.81 (m,16H), 3.74 (s, 6H), 3.72 (s, 3H).

(C1) Synthesis Step According to General Synthesis Scheme II-R3.

t-BuONa (686 mg; 7.14 mmol) was heated at 100° C. under reducedpressure, then the reaction flask was purged with nitrogen and allowedto cool to room temperature. 2,7-Dibromo-9,9-dimethylfluorene (420 mg;1.19 mmol), toluene (40 ml) and Pd[P(^(t)Bu)₃]₂ (20 mg; 0.0714 mmol)were then added, and the reaction mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 15 minutes. Subsequently,N,N,N′-p-trimethoxytriphenylbenzidine (1.5 g; 1.27 mmol) was added tothe reaction mixture which was stirred at 120° C. for 5 hours. Themixture was filtered through a Celite®/MgSO₄ mixture and washed withtoluene. The crude product was purified twice by column chromatography(eluent: 30% ethyl acetate/hexane) and, after twice reprecipitating fromTHF/methanol, a pale yellow solid was obtained (200 mg, yield: 13%).

¹H NMR: (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): 7.60-7.37 (m, 8H), 7.02-6.99 (m, 16H),6.92-6.87 (m, 20H), 6.80-6.77 (d, 2H), 3.73 (s, 6H), 3.71 (s, 12H), 1.25(s, 6H)

(D) Synthesis Example 3 Synthesis of the Compound ID453 (Synthesis RouteI)

(D1) Preparation of the Starting Amine:

Step 1:

NaOH (78 g; 4 eq) was added to a mixture of 2-bromo-9H-fluorene (120 g;1 eq) and BnEt₃NCl (benzyltriethylammonium chloride; 5.9 g; 0.06 eq) in580 ml of DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide). The mixture was cooled withice-water, and methyl iodide (MeI) (160 g; 2.3 eq) was slowly addeddropwise. The reaction mixture was left to stir overnight, then pouredinto water and subsequently extracted three times with ethyl acetate.The combined organic phases were washed with a saturated sodium chloridesolution and dried over Na₂SO₄, and the solvent was removed. The crudeproduct was purified by column chromatography using silica gel (eluent:petroleum ether). After washing with methanol, the product(2-bromo-9,9′-dimethyl-9H-fluorene) was obtained as a white solid (102g).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 1.46 (s, 6H), 7.32 (m, 2H), 7.43 (m, 2H),7.55 (m, 2H), 7.68 (m, 1H)

Step 2:

p-Anisidine (1.23 g; 10.0 mmol) and 2-bromo-9,9′-dimethyl-9H-fluorene(3.0 g; 11.0 mmol) were added under a nitrogen atmosphere to a solutionof t-BuONa (1.44 g; 15.0 mmol) in 15 ml of toluene (15 ml). Pd₂(dba)₃(92 mg; 0.1 mmol) and a 10% by weight solution of P(t-Bu)₃ in hexane(0.24 ml; 0.08 mmol) were added, and the reaction mixture was stirred atroom temperature for 5 hours. Subsequently, the mixture was quenchedwith ice-water, and the precipitated solid was filtered off anddissolved in ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with water anddried over Na₂SO₄. After purifying the crude product by columnchromatography (eluent: 10% ethyl acetate/hexane), a pale yellow solidwas obtained (1.5 g, yield: 48%).

¹H NMR (300 MHz, C₆D₆): 7.59-7.55 (d, 1H), 7.53-7.50 (d, 1H), 7.27-7.22(t, 2H), 7.19 (s, 1H), 6.99-6.95 (d, 2H), 6.84-6.77 (m, 4H), 4.99 (s,1H), 3.35 (s, 3H), 1.37 (s, 6H).

(D2) Preparation of the Compound ID453 for Use in Accordance with theInvention

(D2.1): Synthesis Step According to General Synthesis Scheme I-R2:

Product from a) (4.70 g; 10.0 mmol) and 4,4′-dibromobiphenyl (7.8 g; 25mmol) were added to a solution of t-BuONa (1.15 g; 12 mmol) in 50 ml oftoluene under nitrogen. Pd₂(dba)₃ (0.64 g; 0.7 mmol) and DPPF (0.78 g;1.4 mmol) were added, and the reaction mixture was left to stir at 100°C. for 7 hours. After the reaction mixture had been quenched withice-water, the precipitated solid was filtered off and it was dissolvedin ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with water and dried overNa₂SO₄. After purifying the crude product by column chromatography(eluent: 1% ethyl acetate/hexane), a pale yellow solid was obtained (4.5g, yield: 82%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): 7.70-7.72 (d, 2H), 7.54-7.58 (m, 6H),7.47-7.48 (d, 1H), 7.21-7.32 (m, 3H), 7.09-7.12 (m, 2H), 6.94-6.99 (m,4H), 3.76 (s, 3H), 1.36 (s, 6H).

(D2.2) Synthesis Step According to General Synthesis Scheme I-R3:

N⁴,N⁴′-Bis(4-methoxyphenyl)biphenyl-4,4′-diamine (0.60 g; 1.5 mmol) andproduct from the preceding synthesis step I-R2 (1.89 g; 3.5 mmol) wereadded under nitrogen to a solution of t-BuONa (0.48 g; 5.0 mmol) in 30ml of o-xylene. Palladium acetate (0.04 g; 0.18 mmol) and P(t-Bu)₃ in a10% by weight solution in hexane (0.62 ml; 0.21 mmol) were added, andthe reaction mixture was stirred at 125° C. for 6 hours. Subsequently,the mixture was diluted with 100 ml of toluene and filtered throughCelite®. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄ and the resulting solidwas purified by column chromatography (eluent: 10% ethylacetate/hexane). This was followed by reprecipitation from THF/methanolto obtain a pale yellow solid (1.6 g, yield: 80%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): 7.67-7.70 (d, 4H), 7.46-7.53 (m, 14H),7.21-7.31 (m, 4H), 7.17-7.18 (d, 2H), 7.06-7.11 (m, 8H), 6.91-7.01 (m,22H), 3.75 (s, 12H), 1.35 (s, 12H).

(E) Further Compounds of the Formula I for Use in Accordance with theInvention

The compounds listed below were obtained analogously to the synthesesdescribed above:

(E1) Synthesis Example 4 Compound ID320

¹H NMR (300 MHz, THF-d₈): δ 7.43-7.46 (d, 4H), 7.18-7.23 (t, 4H),7.00-7.08 (m, 16H), 6.81-6.96 (m, 18H), 3.74 (s, 12H)

(E2) Synthesis Example 5 Compound ID321

¹H NMR (300 MHz, THF-d₈): δ 7.37-7.50 (t, 8H), 7.37-7.40 (d, 4H),7.21-7.26 (d, 4H), 6.96-7.12 (m, 22H), 6.90-6.93 (d, 4H), 6.81-6.84 (d,8H), 3.74 (s, 12H)

(E3) Synthesis Example 6 Compound ID366

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 7.60-7.70 (t, 4H), 7.40-7.55 (d, 2H),7.17-7.29 (m, 8H), 7.07-7.09 (t, 4H), 7.06 (s, 2H), 6.86-7.00 (m, 24H),3.73 (s, 6H), 1.31 (s, 12H)

(E4) Synthesis Example 7 Compound ID368

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 7.48-7.55 (m, 8H), 7.42-7.46 (d, 4H),7.33-7.28 (d, 4H), 6.98-7.06 (m, 20H), 6.88-6.94 (m, 8H), 6.78-6.84 (d,4H), 3.73 (s, 12H), 1.27 (s, 18H)

(E5) Synthesis Example 8 Compound ID369

¹H NMR (400 MHz, THF-d8): δ 7.60-7.70 (t, 4H), 7.57-7.54 (d, 4H),7.48-7.51 (d, 4H), 7.39-7.44 (t, 6H), 7.32-7.33 (d, 2H), 7.14-7.27 (m,12H), 7.00-7.10 (m, 10H), 6.90-6.96 (m, 4H), 6.80-6.87 (m, 8H), 3.75 (s,12H), 1.42 (s, 12H)

(E6) Synthesis Example 9 Compound ID446

¹H NMR (400 MHz, dmso-d₆): δ 7.39-7.44 (m, 8H), 7.00-7.07 (m, 13H),6.89-6.94 (m, 19H), 6.79-6.81 (d, 4H), 3.73 (s, 18H)

(E7) Synthesis Example 10 Compound ID450

¹H NMR (400 MHz, dmso-d₆): δ 7.55-7.57 (d, 2H), 7.39-7.45 (m, 8H),6.99-7.04 (m, 15H), 6.85-6.93 (m, 19H), 6.78-6.80 (d, 4H), 3.72 (s,18H), 1.68-1.71 (m, 6H), 1.07 (m, 6H), 0.98-0.99 (m, 8H), 0.58 (m, 6H)

(E8) Synthesis Example 11 Compound ID452

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 7.38-7.44 (m, 8H), 7.16-7.19 (d, 4H),6.99-7.03 (m, 12H), 6.85-6.92 (m, 20H), 6.77-6.79 (d, 4H), 3.74 (s,18H), 2.00-2.25 (m, 4H), 1.25-1.50 (m, 6H)

(E9) Synthesis Example 12 Compound ID480

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 7.40-7.42 (d, 4H), 7.02-7.05 (d, 4H),6.96-6.99 (m, 28H), 6.74-6.77 (d, 4H), 3.73 (s, 6H), 3.71 (s, 12H)

(E10) Synthesis Example 13 Compound ID518

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): 7.46-7.51 (m, 8H), 7.10-7.12 (d, 2H),7.05-7.08 (d, 4H), 6.97-7.00 (d, 8H), 6.86-6.95 (m, 20H), 6.69-6.72 (m,2H), 3.74 (s, 6H), 3.72 (s, 12H), 1.24 (t, 12H)

(E11) Synthesis Example 14 Compound ID519

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): 7.44-7.53 (m, 12H), 6.84-7.11 (m, 32H),6.74-6.77 (d, 2H), 3.76 (s, 6H), 3.74 (s, 6H), 2.17 (s, 6H), 2.13 (s,6H)

(E12) Synthesis Example 15 Compound ID521

¹H NMR (400 MHz, THF-d₆): 7.36-7.42 (m, 12H), 6.99-7.07 (m, 20H),6.90-6.92 (d, 4H), 6.81-6.84 (m, 8H), 6.66-6.69 (d, 4H), 3.74 (s, 12H),3.36-3.38 (q, 8H), 1.41-1.17 (t, 12H)

(E13) Synthesis Example 16 Compound ID522

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): 7.65 (s, 2H), 7.52-7.56 (t, 2H), 7.44-7.47(t, 1H), 7.37-7.39 (d, 2H), 7.20-7.22 (m, 10H), 7.05-7.08 (dd, 2H),6.86-6.94 (m, 8H), 6.79-6.80-6.86 (m, 12H), 6.68-6.73, (dd, 8H),6.60-6.62 (d, 4H), 3.68 (s, 12H), 3.62 (s, 6H)

(E14) Synthesis Example 17 Compound ID523

¹H NMR (400 MHz, THF-d₈): 7.54-7.56 (d, 2H), 7.35-7.40 (dd, 8H), 7.18(s, 2H), 7.00-7.08 (m, 18H), 6.90-6.92 (d, 4H), 6.81-6.86 (m, 12H), 3.75(s, 6H), 3.74 (s, 12H), 3.69 (s, 2H)

(E15) Synthesis Example 18 Compound ID565

¹H NMR (400 MHz, THF-d8): 7.97-8.00 (d, 2H), 7.86-7.89 (d, 2H),7.73-7.76 (d, 2H), 7.28-7.47 (m, 20H), 7.03-7.08 (m, 16H), 6.78-6.90 (m,12H), 3.93-3.99 (q, 4H), 3.77 (s, 6H), 1.32-1.36 (s, 6H)

(E16) Synthesis Example 19 Compound ID568

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): 7.41-7.51 (m, 12H), 6.78-7.06 (m, 36H),3.82-3.84 (d, 4H), 3.79 (s, 12H), 1.60-1.80 (m, 2H), 0.60-1.60 (m, 28H)

(E17) Synthesis Example 20 Compound ID569

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): 7.40-7.70 (m, 10H), 6.80-7.20 (m, 36H),3.92-3.93 (d, 4H), 2.81 (s, 12H), 0.60-1.90 (m, 56H)

(E18) Synthesis Example 21 Compound ID572

¹H NMR (400 MHz, THF-d8): 7.39-7.47 (m, 12H), 7.03-7.11 (m, 20H),6.39-6.99 (m, 8H), 6.83-6.90 (m, 8H), 3.78 (s, 6H), 3.76 (s, 6H), 2.27(s, 6H)

(E19) Synthesis Example 22 Compound ID573

¹H NMR (400 MHz, THF-d8): 7.43-7.51 (m, 20H), 7.05-7.12 (m, 24H),6.87-6.95 (m, 12H), 3.79 (s, 6H), 3.78 (s, 12H)

(E20) Synthesis Example 23 Compound ID575

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): 7.35-7.55 (m, 8H), 7.15-7.45 (m, 4H),6.85-7.10 (m, 26H), 6.75-6.85 (d, 4H), 6.50-6.60 (d, 2H), 3.76 (s, 6H),3.74 (s, 12H)

(E21) Synthesis Example 24 Compound ID629

¹H NMR (400 MHz, THF-d₈): 7.50-7.56 (dd, 8H), 7.38-7.41 (dd, 4H),7.12-7.16 (d, 8H), 7.02-7.04 (dd, 8H), 6.91-6.93 (d, 4H), 6.82-6.84 (dd,8H), 6.65-6.68 (d, 4H) 3.87 (s, 6H), 3.74 (s, 12H)

(E22) Synthesis Example 25 Compound ID631

¹H NMR (400 MHz, THF-d₆): 7.52 (d, 2H), 7.43-7.47 (dd, 2H), 7.34-7.38(m, 8H), 7.12-7.14 (d, 2H), 6.99-7.03 (m, 12H), 6.81-6.92 (m, 20H), 3.74(s, 18H), 2.10 (s, 6H)

(F) Synthesis of Compounds of the Formula IV

(a) Coupling of p-anisidine and 2-bromo-9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluorene

To 0.24 ml (0.08 mmol) of P(t-Bu)₃ (d=0.68 g/ml) and 0.1 g of Pd₂(dba)₂[=(tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0)] (0.1 mmol) were added 10 mlto 15 ml of toluene (anhydrous, 99.8%), and the mixture was stirred atroom temperature for 10 min. 1.44 g (15 mmol) of sodium tert-butoxide(97.0%) were added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for afurther 15 min. Subsequently, 2.73 g (11 mmol) of2-bromo-9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluorene were added and the reaction mixture wasstirred for a further 15 min. Finally, 1.23 g (10 mmol) of p-anisidinewere added and the mixture was stirred at 90° C. for 4 h.

The reaction mixture was admixed with water and the product wasprecipitated from hexane. The aqueous phase was additionally extractedwith ethyl acetate. The organic phase and the precipitated solid whichhad been filtered off were combined and purified by columnchromatography on an SiO₂ phase (10:1 hexane:ethyl acetate).

1.5 g (yield: 47.6%) of a yellow solid were obtained.

¹HNMR (300 MHz, C6D6): 6.7-7.6 (m, 11H), 5.00 (s, 1H,), 3.35 (s, 3H),1.37 (s, 6H)

(b) Coupling of the Product from (a) with tris(4-bromophenyl)amine

To 0.2 ml (0.07 mmol) of P(t-Bu)₃ (D=0.68 g/ml) and 0.02 g (0.1 mmol) ofpalladium acetate were added 25 ml of toluene (anhydrous), and themixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 min. 0.4 g (1.2 mmol) ofsodium tert-butoxide (97.0%) was added and the mixture was stirred atroom temperature for a further 15 min. Subsequently, 0.63 g (1.3 mmol)of tris(4-bromophenyl)amine was added and the reaction mixture wasstirred for a further 15 min. Finally, 1.3 g (1.4 mmol) of the productfrom step (a) were added and the mixture was stirred at 90° C. for 5 h.

The reaction mixture was admixed with ice-cold water and extracted withethyl acetate. The product was precipitated from a mixture ofhexane/ethyl acetate and purified by column chromatography on SiO₂ phase(9:1→5:1 hexane:ethyl acetate gradient).

0.7 g (yield: 45%) of a yellow product was obtained.

¹HNMR (300 MHz, C6D6): 6.6-7.6 (m, 45H), 3.28 (s, 9H), 1.26 (s, 18H)

(G) Synthesis of Compounds ID504

The preparation proceeded from(4-bromophenyl)bis(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl) (see ChemicalCommunications, 2004, 68-69), which was first reacted with4,4,5,5,4′,4′,5′,5′-octamethyl-[2,2′]bi[[1,3,2]dioxaborolanyl] (step a).This was followed by coupling with 9Br-DIPP-PDCI (step b). This wasfollowed by hydrolysis to give the anhydride (step c) and subsequentreaction with glycine to give the final compound (step d).

Step a:

A mixture of 30 g (54 mmol) of(4-bromophenyl)bis(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl), 41 g (162 mmol) of4,4,5,5,4′,4′,5′,5′-octamethyl-[2,2′]bi[[1,3,2]dioxaborolanyl], 1 g (1.4mmol) of Pd(dpf)₂Cl₂, 15.9 g (162 mmol) of potassium acetate and 300 mlof dioxane was heated to 80° C. and stirred for 36 h.

After cooling, the solvent was removed and the residue was dried at 50°C. in a vacuum drying cabinet.

Purification was effected by filtration through silica gel with theeluent 1:1 n-hexane:dichloromethane. After the removal of the reactant,the eluent was switched to dichloromethane. The product was isolated asa reddish and tacky residue. This was extracted by stirring withmethanol at RT for 0.5 h. The light-colored precipitate was filteredoff. After drying at 45° C. in a vacuum drying cabinet, 24 g of alight-colored solid were obtained, which corresponds to a yield of 74%.

Analytical Data

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CD₂Cl₂, 25° C.): δ=7.66-7.61 (m, 6H); 7.41-7.4 (m, 2H);7.33-7.25 (m, 6H); 7.13-7.12 (m, 2H); 7.09-7.07 (m, 2H); 1.40 (s, 12H);1.32 (s, 12H)

Step b:

17.8 g (32 mmol) of 9Br-DIPP-PDCI and 19 ml (95 mmol) of 5 molar NaOHwere introduced into 500 ml of dioxane. This mixture was degassed withargon for 30 min. Then 570 mg (1.1 mmol) of Pd[P(tBu)₃]₂ and 23 g (38mmol) of stage a were added and the mixture was stirred at 85° C. underargon for 17 h.

Purification was effected by column chromatography with the eluent 4:1dichloromethane:toluene.

22.4 g of a violet solid were obtained, which corresponds to a yield of74%.

Analytical Data:

¹H NMR (500 MHz, CH₂Cl₂, 25° C.): δ=8.59-8.56 (m, 2H); 8.46-8.38 (m,4H); 8.21-8.19 (d, 1H); 7.69-7.60 (m, 6H); 7.52-7.25 (m, 17H); 2.79-2.77(m, 2H); 1.44 (s, 12H); 1.17-1.15 (d, 12H)

Step c:

22.4 g (23 mmol) of step b and 73 g (1.3 mol) of KOH were introducedinto 200 ml of 2-methyl-2-butanol and the mixture was stirred at refluxfor 17 h.

After cooling, the reaction mixture was added to 1 l of ice-water+50 mlof concentrated acetic acid. The orange-brown solid was filtered througha frit and washed with water.

The solid was dissolved in dichloromethane and extracted withdemineralized water. 10 ml of concentrated acetic acid were added to theorganic phase, which was stirred at RT. The solvent was removed from thesolution. The residue was extracted by stirring with methanol at RT for30 min, filtered with suction through a frit and dried at 55° C. in avacuum drying cabinet.

This afforded 17.5 g of a violet solid, which corresponds to a yield of94%. The product was used unpurified in the next step.

Step d:

17.5 g (22 mmol) of stage c, 16.4 g (220 mmol) of glycine and 4 g (22mmol) of zinc acetate were introduced into 350 ml of N-methylpyrrolidoneand the mixture was stirred at 130° C. for 12 h.

After cooling, the reaction mixture was added to 1 l of demineralizedwater. The precipitate was filtered through a frit, washed with waterand dried at 70° C. in a vacuum drying cabinet.

Purification was effected by means of column chromatography with theeluent 3:1 dichloromethane:ethanol+2% triethylamine. The isolatedproduct was extracted by stirring at 60° C. with 50% acetic acid. Thesolid was filtered off with suction through a frit, washed with waterand dried at 80° C. in a vacuum drying cabinet.

7.9 g of a violet solid were obtained, which corresponds to a yield of42%.

Analytical Data:

¹H NMR (500 MHz, THF, 25° C.): δ=8.37-8.34 (m, 2H); 8.25-8.18 (m, 4H);8.12-8.10 (d, 1H); 7.74-7.70 (m, 4H); 7.59-7.53 (m, 4H); 7.45-7.43 (m,4H); 7.39-7.37 (m, 2H); 7.32-7.22 (m, 6H); 4.82 (s, 2H); 1.46 (s, 12H)

(H) Synthesis of Compounds ID662

ID662 was prepared by reacting the corresponding commercially availablehydroxamic acid [2-(4-butoxyphenyl)-N-hydroxyacetamide] with sodiumhydroxide.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

110 Detector 112 Object 114 Optical sensor 116 Sensor region 118 Sensorarea 120 Measuring device 122 Evaluation device 124 Data processingdevice 126 Data storage device 128 Interface 130 Transfer device 132Lens 134 Electromagnetic radiation 136 Light spot 138 Modulation device140 Beam interrupter 142 Illumination source 144 Primary radiation 146Reflective surface 148 Semiconductor detector 150 Organic semiconductordetector 152 Organic solar cell 154 Dye solar cell 156 Substrate 158First electrode 160 Blocking layer, buffer layer 162 n-semiconductingmetal oxide 164 Dye 166 p-type semiconductor 168 Second electrode 170Layer structure 172 Encapsulation 174 Fermi level 176 HOMO 178 LUMO 180Distance measuring device 182 Light spot 184 Light spot 186 Housing 188Front side 190 First motor vehicle 192 Rear side 194 Second motorvehicle 196 Imaging device 198 Sample 200 Confocal microscope 202 Focus204 Beam splitter 206 Diaphragm 208 Sensor 210 Stack 212 Layer 214Human-machine interface 216 Entertainment device 218 User 220 Machine222 Display 224 Keyboard 226 Security device 228 Memory device 230Optical data storage device 232 Reading beam 234 Interface

The invention claimed is:
 1. A detector comprising an optical sensor,wherein the optical sensor has a sensor region, the optical sensor isdesigned to generate a sensor signal in a manner dependent on anillumination of the sensor region, the sensor signal, given the sametotal power of the illumination is dependent on a geometry of theillumination, the detector has an evaluation device, and the evaluationdevice is designed to generate an item of geometrical information fromthe sensor signal.
 2. The detector according to claim 1, wherein thedetector has a modulation device for modulating the illumination.
 3. Thedetector according to claim 2, wherein the detector is designed todetect at least two sensor signals in the case of different modulations,wherein the evaluation device is designed to generate the geometricalinformation from the at least two sensor signals.
 4. The detectoraccording to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is designed in such away that the sensor signal, given the same total power of theillumination, is dependent on a modulation frequency of a modulation ofthe illumination.
 5. The detector according to claim 1, wherein thesensor region is exactly one continuous sensor region, and the sensorsignal is a uniform sensor signal for the entire sensor region.
 6. Thedetector according to claim 1, wherein the sensor signal is at least oneselected from the group consisting of a photocurrent and a photovoltage.7. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensorcomprises a semiconductor detector.
 8. The detector according to claim7, wherein the optical sensor comprises a first electrode, an-semiconducting metal oxide, a dye, a p-semiconducting organicmaterial, and a second electrode.
 9. The detector according to claim 1,wherein the geometrical information comprises an item of locationinformation of an object.
 10. The detector according to claim 9, whereinthe evaluation device is designed to determine the geometricalinformation from a predefined relationship between the geometry of theillumination and a relative positioning of an object with respect to thedetector, optionally taking account of a known power of the illuminationand of a modulation frequency with which the illumination is modulated.11. The detector according to claim 1, further comprising a transferdevice, wherein the transfer device is designed to feed electromagneticradiation emerging from an object to the optical sensor and thereby toilluminate the sensor region.
 12. The detector according to claim 1,further comprising an illumination source.
 13. The detector according toclaim 12, wherein the illumination source is selected from the groupconsisting of an illumination source, which is at least partly connectedto an object, is at least partly identical to the object, or both, andan illumination source which is designed to at least partly illuminatethe object with a primary radiation.
 14. A distance measuring device,comprising a detector according to claim 1, wherein the detector isdesigned to determine an item of geometrical information of an object,wherein the geometrical information comprises an item of locationinformation of the object.
 15. An imaging device comprising a detectoraccording to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is designed to image aplurality of partial regions of a sample onto the sensor region and tothereby generate sensor signals assigned to partial regions, the imagingdevice is designed to generate items of geometrical information of therespective partial regions from the sensor signals, and the items ofgeometrical information comprise items of location information.
 16. Ahuman-machine interface comprising a detector according to claim 1,wherein the human-machine interface is designed to generate an item ofgeometrical information of a user by means of the detector, and toassign to the geometrical information an item of information wherein theinterface is suitable for exchanging the item of information between auser and a machine.
 17. An entertainment device, comprising ahuman-machine interface according to claim 16, wherein the entertainmentdevice is designed to enable an item of information to be input by aplayer by means of the human-machine interface, and to vary anentertainment function in accordance with the information.
 18. Asecurity device comprising a detector according to claim 1, wherein thesecurity device is designed to identify, by means of the detector,impingement of focused electromagnetic radiation on the security deviceand optionally to generate a warning signal.
 19. A method for opticallydetecting an object, comprising detecting an object with a detectoraccording to claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises feedingelectromagnetic radiation emerging from the object to optical sensor andthereby illuminating the sensor region, the optical sensor generates asensor signal in a manner dependent on the illumination of the sensorregion, and the sensor signal, given a same total power of theillumination, is dependent on a geometry of the illumination.
 20. Themethod according to claim 19, wherein an item of geometrical informationof the object is generated from the sensor signal.
 21. The detectoraccording to claim 1, wherein the detector is suitable for at least oneselected from the group consisting of: distance measurement, imaging, anentertainment application, a security application, and a human-machineinterface application.
 22. The device according to claim 1, wherein theoptical sensor is an organic solar cell.